Name: __________________________

Date: ________________

Class Section: ______

Balloon Powered Race Cars

Objectives:

Create a balloon-powered racecar designed for maximum speed and distance.

Incorporate mechanics and Newton's Laws of Motion.

Assess efficacy of car design and communicate findings in a scientific lab report.

Materials:

Research collection tool.

Data collection tool.

1x 9 inch balloon.

Various materials used in car construction. (recycled bottle caps, recycled

cardboard)
o Note: All materials that can be recycled will be after the project is complete.

Sample lab report

Lab report grading rubric

Lab report template.

Rules:

The car must be powered by no more than 1, 9 inch balloon.

You can build the car out of anything.

Page 1

It must have at least three wheels. Wheels are defined as anything that is round
and goes around. (The wheels CANNOT be wheels from a toy car. They must be
made out of something that was not originally meant to be used as wheels.)

The car may not leave the ground.

The car must be capable of traveling at least 3 meters.

Group work is required for in-class research, but cars must be built individually with
materials from home.

Timeline:

Research days: Monday, Dec 3 Friday Dec 7

Build days: Monday Dec 10 Wednesday Dec 12

Car test days: Thursday Dec 14 Friday Dec 15

Lab report drafting: Monday Dec 17 Friday, Dec 21

Presentation drafting: Winter holiday Dec 24 Jan 1

Final draft lab report due Jan 14

Task: After learning about the basics motion (distance, speed, acceleration, etc) you
will design and test a balloon-powered car built for maximum speed. You must explain
the reasoning behind your design based on concepts covered in the unit. You will write
a scientific lab report to discuss and communicate your findings.
Quick Write: What are your reactions to the task at this point in time? (Do you feel confident
that you can do this project? What are some things you are excited about? What are you nervous
about? What are some problems that you think might come up?)

Page 2

Page 3

Active Reading and Note taking: How do the forces of friction and drag affect a
car?
Bibliographic
Information
George, Patrick E. How
Aerodynamics Work.
How Stuff Works
(2012). Retrieved
November 30, 2012
from
http://auto.howstuffwor
ks.com/fuelefficiency/fueleconomy/aerodynamics
.htm
Nice, Karim. How
Brakes Work. How
Stuff Works (2012).
Retrieved November
30, 2012 from
http://auto.howstuffwor
ks.com/fuelefficiency/fueleconomy/aerodynamics
.htm

Major Concept: What is it?

How does it work?

Facts or examples from the

article that support the
concept.

Application to balloonpowered car.

Background Information: How do the following concepts from physics

classwork affect the motion of a balloon-powered car?
Concept

Definition

Application

Speed

How fast something moves. A rate described as

distance traveled divided by time.

The amount of time my car takes to travel the 3

meter minimum will tell me how fast the car
went. I will want to make my car take the least
amount of time possible to cover the distance
required.

Newtons 1st Law

Newtons 2nd Law

Newtons 3rd Law

Active Research: How do the following materials affect the motion of a balloonpowered car and why?

Material
Description

Car Part
(Circle)

Chassis
Wheels
Axle

Chassis
Wheels
Axle

Observations

Conclusions & Explanations

Chassis
Wheels
Axle

Chassis
Wheels
Axle

Active Research: How do the following materials affect the motion of a balloonpowered car and why?

Material
Description

Car Part
(Circle)

Chassis
Wheels
Axle

Chassis
Wheels
Axle

Observations

Conclusions & Explanations

Chassis
Wheels
Axle

Chassis
Wheels
Axle

BalloonRacerProjectLabSheet
Introduction: You will be designing a balloon-powered
race car built for maximum speed. The distance traveled
and speed of your racer depends on several factors. All
students will be using the same materials, but how careful you are in
making your car will determine how fast your car will move. In addition to
practicing calculating distance, time, and speed, you will be changing 2
factors on your car to see how it affects the distance travelled and the
speed. You will be changing the amount of air in your balloon and how
much weight is on your car.

Scientific Question (as a class):

Your Hypothesis:

If

then

Introduction Pre-Lab Questions:

1) What is the purpose of this project/experiment? How does it
connect to what you have been learning over the past 2 weeks?

2) True or False: Each group will have different materials and some
groups will get materials that will make their cars go faster.

If it is false, explain what will actually determine which cars go

the fastest:

3) What specifically about the making of your car do you think will help
it go the fastest? (remember everyone is making the same ones)

4) What are the two independent variables in the experiment?

(remember the IV is what you are changing about your car)
IV 1:
IV 2:

5) What are the dependent variables in the experiment? (remember

the DV is what you are measuringyour results)
DV 1:
calculate
DV 2:

Materials List:

Materials Pre-Lab:

which will be used to

Re-write your materials for your car here:

Car-Building Procedure:

1. You will add a mount to put your axles (wooden skewers) through so they can turn. To do this, mount the two 3"
sections of straw across the underside of the chassis (make sure they are exactly straight acrossnot at an
angle) and use tape to tape them securely down.
2. A car is nothing without axles. Given the size of your car, wooden barbeque skewers will make perfect axles. Slide
the wooden skewers through the middle of the straws.
3. Axles are great, but humans invented the wheel for a reason. The wheel was invented for use on the Balloon
Powered Car! Carefully push your 4 wheels (water bottle caps) onto the skewers through the pre-made holes,
one on each end of both skewers.

Anyone who has ever built a car from scratch will tell you that the engine is the most complicated piece, and the balloon
powered car is no different. Hope you're ready!
4. For the exhaust pipe, insert a straw approximately 1" into the balloon. Use tape to securely attach the straw inside the
balloon. Make sure the seal is tight, or else air will leak out!
5. Mount the exhaust pipe on your car so that the point where the straw and balloon connect is about 1" from the end of
your chassis. Secure the straw so that it points straight out behind your car.

Car Building Pre-Lab Questions:

1) After reading the procedure, draw a picture of how the underside of your card
should look. Make sure you have the mount straws/axle going straight across the
chassis (body), not at an angle.

2) How far into the balloon should the straw go? What do you need to do after you
put the straw in?

3) How much of the straw should lie on the car before it sticks out behind the car?

4) Why do you need to make sure the straw points straight back? (think about the
direction you want your car to go)

Car-Testing Procedure:
1. Every balloon needs to be blown up to the same volume. To measure, hold your pre-marked
measuring tool straight up from the body (chassis) of your car. Inflate the balloon by blowing air
into the exhaust pipe until the top of the balloon reaches mark 1 on the measuring tool. Pinch the
straw to hold the air inside the balloon.
2. To race your car, place the front of your car on the start linethe 0 meter mark on the floor. When
ready, release the exhaust pipe to allow the air to escape the balloon. At the same time you release
the straw, have the Timer start the stopwatch.
3. Stop the timer once the front of the car hits the 3 meter mark on the track. Record the time in Data
Table 1.
4. After running two trials and recording the time for each trial, calculate the average speed for each
trial run.

Car Testing Pre-Lab Questions:

1) How do you know how much to blow up your balloon?
2) What should you do as soon as you fill up the balloon this much?
3) Describe how you will measure the time your car is moving? Why is it important to
start and stop the watch at exactly the correct times?
4) How many trials are you going to do?
5) What is the equation to calculate speed?

Give your car a name! _____________________________________________

Problem: Design the fastest and farthest traveling balloon racer.

Individual Data

Round 1:
Mass of car ___________ kg

Speed Trial

Distance (m)

Trial 1

Trial 2

Average

Time (s)
Speed (m/s)

Distance Trial
Trial 1

Trial 2

Average

Distance (m)

Observations: Draw a neat, full colored diagram of your car in motion

and show which direction the balloon air was going, and which direction
your car was moving

Post-Lab Questions

Class Data

Car Name

Car Mass (kg)

Average Speed
(m/s)

Average Distance
(m)

Follow Up & Conclusions: Use your understanding of Newton three laws

of motion and real-world forces to explain
(1) exactly how the balloons caused a force to move the car.

(2) why your car went faster or slower than other cars.

(3) why your car went further (or not) than the other cars.

Lab Participation Scoring:

Comments

Hypothesis

__________ (10 points)

Individual Data

__________ (10 points)

Car Diagram (with forces)

__________ (10 points)

Class Data

__________ (10 points)

Behavior (adheres to all rules and

procedures, and contributes
positively).

__________ (10 points)

Conclusions (10 points per question)

__________ (30 points)

Name: ______________________________

Team Members: ______________________________________________________________

LAB REPORT CRITERIA: NOTE CATCHER FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

Sentence Starters for each team member
Leader: Im noticing that we only have _________ minutes, so we probably need to or We havent heard from ___________ yet, what do you
think about.
Reader: Ok, Question ___ says. or What do you all think we should record? or The paper says
Materials Person: Do we all agree this is important enough to put on our sentence strip? or Should I be writing this on the note catcher?
Questioner: Does anyone in our group know
1. In your own words, what do you need to do to get a 4 on this paper?

2. In your own words, what are some of the major differences between a 3 and a 4?

3. What score would you give this paper in on the rubric? Why? What is your evidence?

CATEGORY
Problem &
Introduction

The purpose of the lab or the

question to be answered during the
lab is clearly identified and stated.

The purpose of the lab or the

question to be answered
during the lab is identified, but
is stated in a somewhat
unclear manner.

The purpose of the lab or the

question to be answered during
the lab is partially identified,
and is stated in a somewhat
unclear manner.

The purpose of the lab or

the question to be
answered during the lab is
erroneous or irrelevant.

Reading &
Research

Several reputable background

sources were used and cited
correctly. Material is translated into
student\'s own words and is relevant
to experiment purpose.

A few reputable background

sources are used and cited
correctly. Material is translated
into student\'s own words and
is somewhat relevant to
experimental problem.

Almost no background sources

are referenced and cited.
Material used is somewhat
relevant to the experimental
problem.

Material is directly copied

and/or background sources
are not cited. Material is
somewhat or completely
irrelevant to the
experimental problem.

Experimental
Hypothesis

Hypothesized relationship between

the variables and the predicted
results is clear and reasonable based
on what has been studied.

Hypothesized relationship
between the variables and the
predicted results is reasonable
based on general knowledge
and observations.

Hypothesized relationship
between the variables and the
predicted results has been
stated, but appears to be based
on flawed logic.

No hypothesis has been

stated.

Procedures &
Materials

Procedures are listed in clear steps.

Steps are logically ordered and
written in complete sentences in a
paragraph. All materials and setup
used in the experiment are clearly
and accurately described.

Procedures are listed but are not

in a logical order or are difficult
to follow. Most of the materials
and the setup used in the
experiment are accurately
described.

Procedures do not
accurately list the steps of
the experiment. Many
materials are described
inaccurately OR are not
described at all.

Car Diagram

Clear, accurate diagram is included

with a caption that makes the
experiment easier to understand.
Diagram is labeled neatly and
accurately (including forces).
Professional looking and accurate
representation of the data in tables
and/or graphs. Graphs and tables are
labeled and titled.

Procedures are listed in a

logical order, but steps are not
in complete sentences. Almost
all materials and the setup
used in the experiment are
clearly and accurately
described.
Diagram is included and is
labeled neatly and accurately.

Diagram is included and is

labeled.

Needed diagram is missing

entirely OR is missing
important labels.

Accurate representation of the

data in tables and/or graphs.
Graphs and tables are labeled
and titled.

Accurate representation of the

data in written form. No graphs
or tables are presented.

Data are not shown OR are

inaccurate.

The relationship between the

variables is discussed and
trends/patterns logically
analyzed.

The relationship between the

variables is discussed but no
patterns, trends or predictions
are made based on the data.

The relationship between

the variables is not
discussed.

Analysis &
Scientific
Concepts
Analysis

The relationship between the

variables is discussed and
trends/patterns logically analyzed.
Predictions are made about what
might happen if part of the lab were
changed or how the experimental
design could be changed.

Scientific
Concepts

Report illustrates an accurate and

thorough understanding of scientific
concepts underlying the lab.

Report illustrates an accurate

understanding of most
scientific concepts underlying
the lab.

Report illustrates a limited

understanding of scientific
concepts underlying the lab.

Report illustrates
inaccurate understanding
of scientific concepts
underlying the lab.

Conclusion

Conclusion includes whether the

findings supported the hypothesis,
possible sources of error, and what
was learned from the experiment.

Conclusion includes whether

the findings supported the
hypothesis and what was
learned from the experiment.

Conclusion includes what was

learned from the experiment.

No conclusion was included

in the report OR shows
little effort and reflection.

Appearance/
Organization

Lab report is typed and uses

headings and subheadings to visually
organize the material.

Lab report is neatly

handwritten and uses headings
and subheadings to visually
organize the material.

Lab report is neatly written or

typed, but formatting does not
help visually organize the
material.

Lab report is handwritten

and looks sloppy with
cross-outs, multiple
erasures and/or tears and
creases.

Scoring Breakdown
4 = 100 (A) ; 3.5 = 87 (B+) ; 3 = 75 (C) ; 2.5 = 65 (D) ; 2 = 50 (F) ; 1.5 = 37 (F-) ; 1 = 25 (F--)

Name: _______________________

Date:_____________

Class Section: _____

Lab Report Template: Drafting A Lab Report

Abstract

Introduction
(problem/question and background research)

Hypothesis

Procedure & Materials

Materials:

Procedure:

Diagram:

Collection of Data / Observations

Tables & Graphs:

Results Summary:

Analysis of Data

Conclusions