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Ballon Powered Car Project

2007 Fastest Speed Winner

2.39 Meters per Second

2007 Total Distance Winner

21.31 Meters

2007 Fastest Speed Winner in Period 1 2007 Total Distance Winner in Period 1

2007 Fastest Speed Winner in Period 2 2007 Total Distance Winner in Period 2

2007 Fastest Speed Winner in Period 5 2007 Total Distance Winner in Period 5

2007 Fastest Speed Winner in Period 6 2007 Total Distance Winner in Period 6

2007 Fastest Speed Winner in Period 7 2007 Total Distance Winner in Period 7

Important Guidelines and Information:

Balloon Powered Car Project - this is an in-class partner project with a partner PowerPoint presentation. At the end, youwill also create a Podcast Project Summary. Materials are gathered from group members to build the balloon powered car.The goal is to apply what we've learned about mechanical interactions by building a rocket car that minimizes friction anddrag. During testing, we will calculate average speed and take many measurements. We then will analyze the interactionsand forces involved in our cars. The most challenging aspect of this project is collaborating with others. Every groupmember must contribute their ideas BEFORE construction of their rocket car. Another challenge is the actual constructionof the car. You will run in to some technical issues (car turns, ballon drags on ground, parts fall off your car, or it justdoesn't work at all!) that will require more collaboration with your partner to solve.

Project Sequence:

Online Balloon Car Research - Topic ForumsProject ProposalInitial Designs

Materials CollectionPartner Collaboration

ConstructionMaterialsProceduresChallenges and Technical Issues

TestingData Processing using MS Excel

Graphing Distance vs. TimeGraphing Speed vs. Time

Data Analysis and ConclusionsTopic Forums - Sharing ResultsData and Graph AnalysisCreate a PowerPoint PresentationInteractions and Energy Transfers AnalysisForces AnalysisConclusion

Podcast to BROADCAST TO THE WORLD!

Project Rules/Guidelines:

You will be given only two 9 inch ballons to power your car.The car must only be powered by two balloons.The car must be made from simple materials, nothing prefabricated.The car may not leave the ground and have at least 3 wheels

Car Testing:

Premeasure a distance of 5 meters.One car will race at a time. One team member prepares the car at thestarting line.Cars take off at "Go!" Timers start.Time will be taken twice at 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, and at car stop (totalrun time).Cars continue pass the finish line until they stop.Measure total distance traveled.Each car will be allowed three trial runs only if necessary. This allowsa second or third chance if the car turns, balloon pinches, etc. If the carmakes a successful run, we will only use this data.Grading for car performance: less than 1 meter: 0 points, 1 meter: 100points, 2 meters: 200 points, 3 meters: 300 points, 4 meters: 400 points,5 meters or more: 500 points.

Assignment Documents:Balloon Powered Car Project Proposal (Green Sheet)Balloon Powered Car Project Materials, Procedures, Challenges & Techinical Difficulties (Pink Sheet)Balloon Powered Car Project Data Collection (Blue Sheet)

Graphing Velocity (Graph Sheet)Graphing Speed (Yellow Sheet)Graphing Velocity and Speed Excel Lesson

Graphing Velocity and Speed of YOUR CAR and Technology Instructions (White Sheet)Balloon Powered Car Project Data Collection - Class Excel Spreadsheet

Balloon Powered Car Project Excel Data and Graph Template and Example (EXCEL EXAMPLE & TEMPLATE)Balloon Powered Car Project PowerPoint Template and Example (POWERPOINT TEMPLATE)Balloon Powered Car Project Podcast Script (Bright Green Sheet)

Balloon Powered Car Project Data Analysis Write-UpPeriod 1 DATAPeriod 2 DATA

Period 5 DATAPeriod 6 DATA

Period 7 DATAClick HERE to go to our school's Podcasts - HERE you will find our Balloon Powered Car Project Podcasts

Car Pictures (PHOTOS WERE TAKEN BY STUDENTS):

Period 1

Period 2

Period 5

Period 6

Period 7

Helpful Links for Research:NASA Balloon Powered Car Contest - An engineering contest held at NASA's JPL in Pasadena, CA.

PBS Kids Balloon Car Interactive Model - A program is available here that allows you to see how variables affect a balloon powered car.

Science Squad - Has one design idea to build a balloon powered car.

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