Balloon powered car

For the full instructions on how to build a Balloon powered car -
www.questacon.edu.au/outreach/...
When air from the balloon moves in one direction, it forces the car to move in the opposite direction.

[@subkz]

Thank's man! I have to do one of these for a school project, but my science teacher won't tell us how to make it move.Two thumbs up!

[@QuestaconTV]

I haven’t tried using K’Nex, but I do know that Lego works well. You’re right in thinking that heavy building blocks could affect the speed and max distance of the car. It’s definitely worth experimenting with! Once you’ve tried it, post back and let us know how you went.

[@aliciajohnson1929]

This is going to help me for my school project! Thank you so much! :)

[@linden5235]

*NoIcE oRaNgE wHeElS* *ReD iS tHe FaStEsT*

[@mLpJy]

Fianlly a tut with good quality, that actually works. Thank youuuu :D

[@kyrapalm6448]

THANK YOU! it helped me with my science project!

[@QuestaconTV]

@ChiefExecutive07 When we conducted the experiment we didn’t measure how far the car travelled. However, based on our observations of operating the balloon-powered cars in a number of settings, the cars can travel a couple of metres. The distance that your car will travel will depend upon the materials that you use to construct the car and the surface on which you operate the car.

[@antoinettez5893]

he looks surfy not sciency

[@zelda2geek]

thank you so much my GRADE 10 sister was making this and she failed epicly so i loooked up this video and helped her using your design she was so thrilled and suprised that a ninth grader helped her. consider this channel subscribed from Zelda2geek

[@QuestaconTV]

@SoNotLegit Gatorade wheels, good luck! We'd love to hear how it goes, so let us know!

[@QuestaconTV]

@firestar010299 I don’t recall exactly how for our car travelled, but the distance a balloon powered car goes depends a lot on the individual construction. If you’re aiming for maximum range, try considering a few different variables before you make your car (eg: wheel size, car weight, balloon inflation size, which material the axels are made from, the type of surface it’s driving along).

[@QuestaconTV]

@firestar010299 One factor that is not mentioned anywhere else in this activity is: the friction between the car body and the axels. If you can minimise that, less energy will be lost to friction, and the car may go further. Try using an oil-based lubricant to make the axels more slippery. Just be sure to read the safety precautions of any substances you use.

[@estherr]

OMG! mine worked and it went so fast! thank you for making this video :)

[@QuestaconTV]

Hi Ashlie, There are a number of ways you could look at increasing the speed of the balloon-powered car, including experimenting with how streamlined the shape of the car is; selecting wheels of different sizes and textures (eg. smooth wheels will reduce the friction between the car and the ground); and trying balloons of different shapes and sizes.

[@MyMusicJC]

you just saved my science grade xD

[@migkhrs2424]

this really work I did this for my school project and my teacher liked it

[@michgee]

You're a HUUUGE help! thank you!

[@QuestaconTV]

@firestar010299 Have a think about how changing these variables might affect the distance of the car, and then try them out to test your hypothesis. If you visit the activity page on the Questacon Science Squad Activities website, the “Investigate” section gives a very good hint towards making the car travel further. Constructing a few different versions of the car shouldn’t take more than an afternoon. Then you can spend the rest of spring break racing them!

[@QuestaconTV]

To replace the cardboard, you need something firm, but light so it doesn’t weigh the car down. You could try sticking a few rulers together, or use the lid to a rectangular container (like Tupperware or take away). To replace the skewers, you need something solid and thin so it doesn’t bend and move. You could use some thick fencing wire, a thin knitting needle, or a lolly pop stick. Just be careful you don’t poke yourself while working with sharp things :) Good luck, and have fun!

[@henry1350cent]

i had to do this on Thursday thanks for the vid it helped me

[@QuestaconTV]

We would recommend checking the following components of your car to make sure that it can function properly, check that: 1) the plasticine is holding your wheels in place, 2) the skewers (within the straws) are able to easily move, 3) the rubber band that is fastening your balloon to the straw isn’t attached too tightly (eg. preventing air from easily moving in and out of the straw/balloon) and 4) that you are testing the car on a clear, smooth surface. Hopefully these hints help!

[@Dontmess95]

I made an A on my project. Oh and it really does hurt if you poke yourself with the skewers.

[@dxdd34]

thnx man for giving me a idea for my physics project

[@uzonnaadibemma3353]

Good job

[@billylafrance1971]

cool for science projects like mine :)

[@QuestaconTV]

Tape may be called different names in other countries. The generic name for adhesive tape in Australia is 'sticky tape'. Best of luck with your project.

[@QuestaconTV]

At the moment, we have no plans to update the website to expand on that particular activity. However a balloon powered rocket should be quite straight forward, as a balloon behaves quite similarly to a rocket already. Consider adding some light-weight fins to help your balloon fly straight. Or, perhaps, attach a straw to the balloon and feed a string through the straw. Let it go at one end and watch it fly down (or up) the string.

[@QuestaconTV]

When we conducted the experiment we didn’t measure how far the car travelled. However, based on our observations of operating the balloon-powered cars in a number of settings, the cars can travel a couple of metres. The distance that your car will travel will depend upon the materials that you use to construct the car and the surface on which you operate the car. See other user comments below, as some people have reported different distances. Best of luck.

[@badboyryan2012]

Thanks I hope I got an Big A+

[@PuR3xVFX15]

thanks helped with school project :)

[@QuestaconTV]

Yes, it will travel at least 1.5 metres, but remember that different elements such as the surface of the floor, size of the balloon will effect the distance. Good Luck!

[@azngirl1854]

thanks a lot. now i ca finish my projecttt

[@TCall126]

So apparently I'm not the only one forced to do this science project that has nothing to do with science?

[@theonlytrueballer]

im using this experience for propulsion by reaction

[@deafbluethunder]

Will putting a weight on it make it faster or slower?

[@Bakugan2833]

awsome! might be my car for my chemistry project :) Though I do have a few questions. When you mean sticky tape, does that mean duct tape? And also, my project requires a container fill with water to be taped or w/e onto the vehicle, how would i do that?

[@QuestaconTV]

The six simple machines are: Incline Planes, Screws, Wedges, Levers, Pulleys, and Wheel & Axels. The balloon powered car doesn’t really explore these principles any more than a standard toy car does. I recommend looking instead at some different devices, such as wheel barrows (levers and wheels) or an Archemedes’ screw (incline planes and screws). Best of luck.

[@JBThawley]

@Storskin i hope so

[@LAZER1800]

thx it really helped my school project (=

[@anasmmtaji]

did you use the same materials as in the video ?

[@NicoxPS3]

this is for my sience project..... :) yhank man i hope i get a good grade

[@CentralJerseyDrivers]

how far did it go by following his instructions?

[@SneakyFart69]

DEADLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Andrew-ni8sn]

Find more about the balloon caw?

[@piercedonnelly]

tanks i needed it 4 school

[@dianavarela2523]

how far does the car go ?

[@OGXPLAYBOY]

@bronchialcircle how do get the cds to stay and not get them all wabbely

[@rottady]

SICK!

[@lika345678910]

i have to do this for a project what type of wheels were they (gatorade wheels)???? plzz reply ASAP!!!

[@Megan121796]

im doint this project for school...if i dont have crdboard or the skewers what could i use to replace these items. i have 1 day to make this and im not really close.

[@thejes98]

you saved me for physics

[@katrinazerba911]

sticky tape is the same as tape... and thanks, got my science project down pat.

[@QuestaconTV]

The best way to find out how far the car will travel is to make a car and test it out. The distance that your particular car will travel will vary depending upon a number of factors such as: the surface on which you are testing your car, the total weight of your materials, the size of your wheels, the type of balloon that you are using, the amount of air you put in the balloon, etc. Let us know how you go!

[@dhatfleeswaqq]

@thelandofrandom01 did it? just curious?

[@CarmineCalypso]

I never even knew what it was in the first place when I did mine :P

[@thelandofrandom01]

I hope this gets me an A in science

[@Auburncalvaryaogband]

that was awsome

[@jvu1321]

@LethalGunner99 30cm? mine has to go at least 5meters..

[@mikelo5322]

Im doing this project at school thanks

[@vicentevega2420]

Awesome

[@ThaPhantom01]

Thumps up if you stapped yourself with the stick

[@bronchialcircle]

lol best wheels are cds! they role forever

[@mikelo5322]

thans im doing this project at school

[@Khawk1214HD]

how far does it go how fast does it go?!?! i have to turn it in friday soooooo i need to know please is it worth makeing? does it work speed and how maney meters please reply

[@carlojeffersonyu45]

man this is my project...for science...XD

[@wonkeytjuuuh]

it's awesome :D and red is the fastest? well then i better not choose a yellow balloon because it wouldn't move xD

[@saltypepper6888]

yes it is

[@invadepoland]

Love your vid man. Really good. Subscribe: ) im going to try this out for myself

[@Ashlie0091]

How do you make it go faster

[@myrandawars4932]

Thumbs up of this is for school!

[@alanotea3695]

Do we have to use the skews? Cause I don't have it, and when I only used straws, it didn't work.

[@migkhrs2424]

no you can use strews

[@714skater]

thx dude i got 1st on da class race

[@playmoney132]

isnt all tape sticky...? But good video

[@wakaphwap]

thumbs up if you need this for school

[@hustlaus]

Look at it Go!!!

[@wasimeltaier3306]

nice

[@mollysanders471]

Very very very very very very very very very nice

[@ThaPhantom01]

can it go 15 meters?

[@KaustovChakrabarti]

why do you need skews again?

[@TheTortoiseTorterra]

Slower because it is running on air if you put a 1 kg thing on top it will not move im sure of it using that type of balloon powered car

[@thenameisjulio]

thx

[@TheDxlgames]

i do this at school for a project.

[@NicoxPS3]

this is for my sience project..... :)

[@DIRTYDIABLO98]

science project completed CHECK

[@36hotpepper]

Dang it I got non-sticky tape

[@blakrebel1910]

can u do this with helium

[@abhilashkiritpandya]

wassup wit my man hair

[@anaischavez6587]

my wheels did NOT go on that easy.

[@outdoorstuff34]

I'm doing this at school

[@QuestaconTV]

@lika345678910 Gatorade wheels, yes…good luck!

[@dollyazeez8993]

wow

[@minglenderman6158]

Thanks!!! I'm just going to use different wheels. Have to do it for school too

[@yolandacollier182]

Thank god idk what i was doing

[@mzrandomvideos]

@joynte12 I love you, because i am the same.

[@estherr]

@tsai314t WOW! my car went the farthest and got 100%

[@KayyaRose]

wait why is the red the fastest? is that a joke or

[@bvsk145]

it went 19 meters for me

[@kevinlynch9136]

Make more

[@joynte12]

ok my car is not moving and i followed the directions

[@chenny3055]

nuh dah