NAME:

GRADE AND SECTION:

ACTIVITY 8: BALLOON ROCKET
Objective:

Describe how a balloon rocket works and how conservation of momentum explains rocket motion.

Material Needed:
Balloon (long shape)
String (nylon, if available)
Tape
Procedure:
1. Stretch the string over two posts. You can use chairs or iron stands as posts. Make sure that the
string is taut.
2. Inflate the balloon. Twist the open end and temporarily secure it with a paper clip.
3. Tape the straw to the balloon such that it is aligned with the balloons opening.
4. Draw a diagram showing the momentum vectors of your balloon rocket and the air.
Q1. How do these momenta compare?

Q2. How does the velocity of the air is pushed out of the rocket compare to the velocity of the
balloon rocket?

NAME:
GRADE AND SECTION:
ACTIVITY 8: BALLOON ROCKET
Objective:

Describe how a balloon rocket works and how conservation of momentum explains rocket motion.

Material Needed:
Balloon (long shape)
String (nylon, if available)
Tape
Procedure:
1. Stretch the string over two posts. You can use chairs or iron stands as posts. Make sure that the
string is taut.
2. Inflate the balloon. Twist the open end and temporarily secure it with a paper clip.
3. Tape the straw to the balloon such that it is aligned with the balloons opening.
4. Draw a diagram showing the momentum vectors of your balloon rocket and the air.
Q1. How do these momenta compare?

Q2. How does the velocity of the air is pushed out of the rocket compare to the velocity of the
balloon rocket?
NAME:

GRADE AND SECTION:

ACTIVITY 9: BOUNCY BALLS

Objective:

Classify a collision as perfectly elastic, slightly inelastic, moderately inelastic, highly inelastic, or
perfectly inelastic.

Materials Needed:
4-5 types of balls (e.g. clay ball, marble, styro ball, rubber ball), 3 different surfaces (tiled, wood,
concrete)
Procedure:
1. Drop each ball from a distance of 1 meter onto the surface and record how high it bounces in
meters.
2. Note whether the ball and surface showed perfectly elastic, or perfectly inelastic collision.
Classify the collision as follows:
If the ball bounces up by 1 meter, then the collision is perfectly elastic.
If the ball does not bounce up, the collision is perfectly inelastic.
3. Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 for the two other surfaces.

SURFACE

MASS

BOUNCE (m)

Degree of
elasticity

A
B
C
A
B
C
A
B
C
A
B
C

BALL
BALL
BALL
BALL
BALL
BALL
BALL
BALL
BALL
BALL
BALL
BALL

1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4

Q. which ball is generally more elastic? Which surface is generally more elastic? Was there an
elastic collision? Was there a perfectly inelastic collision?

NAME:

GRADE AND SECTION:

ACTIVITY 2: HEP HEP HOORAY
Objectives:

hanging end of the string and hook

the paper clips on it.
5. Position the turbine model on table
with the hanging paper clips free to
move.

At the end of the activity, you

should be able to:
Construct a simple turbine unit
Demonstrate mechanical energy

Q1. Using the turbine model, what are

some ways you can do to lift the hanging
paper clips? Cite at least three methods.

transformations.
Materials Needed:
Plastic folder
Permanent marker pen
Ruler
Pair of scissors
Cutter juice drink straw
Hot melt glue
Masking tape
Thread
5-10 paper clips
1 1.5 liter plastic bottle
Procedure:

Q2. For each method, what forms of

energy will be involved in the process?
Trace the transformation of energy.

1. Prepare 8 blades for the turbine. Cut

2 inch by 1 inch strips of plastic
folder. Shape it any way you want.
2. Glue the blades to the middle of the
straw similar to the sample. The straw
will serve as the shaft of the turbine.
3. Make a turbine holder using one of
the plastic bottles. Use a push pin
then a 3-inch nail to make holes at a
10-cm height to hold the straw.
Ensure that the turbine can rotate
freely. If needed, make some plastic
stopper to hold the turbine in place.
4. Tie a meter-long thread around the
turbine shaft (straw). Secure the
knot to the haft with a tape. Loop the

Q3. In lifting the paper clips, how will

you quantify and relate the work that you
will do to the energy transformations
involved?