Build a Balloon Powered Car
This activity involves re-using an empty plastic drinks bottle and some craft resources to build a balloon powered car !
Children love building vehicles, whether they are cars, boats, rockets or pretty much anything that moves.
Using and empty drinks bottle and some basic craft resources, we can build a car that is powered by balloon !
Specifically, the car is powered by the release of the highly pressurised air contained within the balloon escaping at high speed into the room, and environment where the air is at a lower pressure than the air inside the balloon.
This is a fun task to do with children, and, once they have built their cars, they can hold a Balloon Powered Car Race.
There are loads of different designs, but this one allows you to start thinking about air resistance and the idea of 'streamling' !
Points to ponder ...
This activity involves using scissors, a hot glue gun, and balloons.
What health and safety risks might you need to consider ?
Hot Glue is ... well ... hot !
Scissors are sharp.
And balloons can be unpredicable.
Everybody gets a fright when a balloon bursts ... but do we need to think about making sure children are safe ? It's highly unlikely that it would happen ... but what if a balloon burst in such a way that it might be a risk to someone's eye ?
What about hearing ? Can lots of bursting balloons damage a child's hearing ?
And what about germs ? When the balloon deflates, the air inside is released into the room. Covid has taught us that our breath can carry virsuses. (Remember us all having to wear face masks ?)
So ... a room fool of children, with balloons deflating and potentially spreading viruses ... is this something we need to take into account ?