Engineering Challenge: Balloon Racer

Use the balloon racers to demonstrate your knowledge of Newtons Laws of Motion and the scientific thinking.
Your task is to create a balloon powered race car for maximum speed and distance. You will bring in materials
from home and assemble your car in class with your team.

The rules to this activity are simple:

Groups of 2-3 people.
The car must be powered by balloons (maximum 2
nine-inch standard balloons)
The chassis can be created using recycled materials.
It must have at least three wheels:
The wheels can be anything that is round and goes
around.
The wheels may not be anything that was originally
designed to be a wheel (i.e. the wheels from a toy
car.)
The car may not leave the ground.
The car must be capable of traveling at least 5 meters.
Cars MUST be constructed at school.
No external sources of energy are permitted including, but
not limited to, push starts, blowing on the car, batteries, solar cells, etc.

**DO NOT BRING ANY SHARP OBJECTS TO SCHOOL. If you cannot cut something with scissors, figure out
another way to construct your car**

Race Day:
On race day we will set up a track down the hallway. You will race in pairs against other classmates for
the longest distance travelled. You will only be allowed TWO runs on race day.
Student Names: ____________________________________________________________ Hour: ______

Grading Rubric
____ / 5pts DAILY Cooperation and time management: ( points deducted for not being with the team, not
being prepared, borrowing supplies, etc.)

____ / 10pts ar follows all rules and ready on race day.

Final Balloon Car: C

____ / 10pts Distance Travelled: F or grading purposes the entire car (including the back wheels)
must pass the mark to earn the grade.
5.0 meters = 10pts 3.5 meters = 7 pts 2.0 meters = 4 pts
4.5 meters = 9 pts 3.0 meters = 6 pts 1.0 meters = 3 pts
4.0 meters = 8 pts 2.5 meters = 5 pts

Other Graded Components:

Brainstorming Sheet (Completed on Day 1 AS A GROUP) 10 points total
Brainstorm Session: List at least 4 possible ideas for chassis and wheel
Design YOUR balloon racer. Include:
A diagram of your plan for your balloon racer with color.
Building materials labeled in the diagram of your racer.
A paragraph description of the construction method including how to attach the balloon.

Daily Reflection (Completed daily INDIVIDUALLY) 4 points daily

A good engineer always records what they tried, what works, what doesnt work, and
ideas they have considered. Log all of your actions, ideas, thoughts, and reasoning for
decisions during the day. Discuss the challenges you faced, what caused those
challenges, and how you addressed or plan to address those challenges in the future.
1 point will be awarded for labeling the post with a date and a title.
Up to 3 points will be awarded for your reflection.
3 points Wow, I really understood why you did what you did and your ideas were clearly presented.
2 points I wish you provided me more reasoning for your decisions/ideas.
1 point Im not even sure what you accomplished during the work-day.

Balloon Car Analysis (Completed after the final race INDIVIDUALLY) 23

points total
What was your cars speed during the first 5 meters? (Clearly explain where/how you collected the data
What does Newtons 1st Law state and how does Newtons 1st Law apply to the motion of your car?
What does Newtons 2nd Law state and how does Newtons 2nd Law apply to the motion of your car?
What does Newtons 3rd Law state and how does Newtons 3rd Law apply to the motion of your car?
What is the definition of friction and how did it apply to your car?