DIY Cart Toy From Recycled Materials

DIY Cart Toy from Recycled Materials
Key concepts
Physics
Kinetic energy
Potential energy
Conservation of energy
Newton's laws of motion
Introduction
Transform a collection of discarded items into a functional toy car that comes to life! This engaging
activity not only allows you to have fun but also provides a unique learning experience about
fundamental physics principles. By repurposing recycled materials, you'll construct a balloon-
propelled toy car. For an added layer of excitement, consider teaming up with a friend to create two
cars and engage in a thrilling race to determine whose creation zooms ahead as the speediest
contender
Background
At first glance, a humble balloon car may appear to be just a playful toy, but in reality, it's a
fascinating embodiment of several key principles in physics and engineering. When you inflate a
balloon, it accumulates potential energy in the form of stretched rubber and compressed air. The
moment you release the balloon, this potential energy seamlessly transforms into kinetic energy,
propelling the balloon car across the floor. During this process, a portion of the energy is also
converted into heat due to friction between the wheels and the surface. As dictated by the law of
conservation of energy, the total energy remains constant. It's an enlightening reminder that energy
never vanishes; it simply metamorphoses into another distinct form.
An alternative way to understand the balloon's motion is through the lens of Newton's third law of
motion: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." When you inflate a balloon and
release the nozzle, the rubber contracts and forces the air out through the nozzle. This process
implies an essential principle—an equal and opposing reaction occurs, with the air exerting a force in
the opposite direction, effectively driving the balloon forward. This very principle, akin to what
powers real rockets and jets expelling high-speed streams of gases from their engines to move
forward, is the cornerstone of this project. Here, you'll harness this concept to create a toy car that
propels itself forward as the air escapes from a deflating balloon.
The balloon car also incorporates a fundamental simple machine: the wheel and axle. This invention
has a rich history, and its significance is often overlooked, even though many of us rely on wheeled
vehicles daily. It's worth noting that ensuring the smooth rotation of your wheel and axle is a vital
component in ensuring the proper functioning of your balloon car.
Materials
 Marker Pen
 Four plastic bottle caps
 Pen
 Balloon
 Glue Gun
 Tape
 Scissors or sharp knife (Have an adult use or supervise your use of this tool.)
 An adult helper
Preparation
 Cut the pen in two small pieces around 2 cm.

 Tape both pieces of the straw to one side of the water bottle.
 Cut the wooden skewer in half and push each piece through one of the straws. These
will form your axles. (Have an adult help.)
 Have an adult help use the scissors to poke a “+”-shaped hole directly in the center of
each plastic bottle cap.
 Press each bottle cap onto the ends of the wooden skewers. These will form your
wheels.
Procedure
 Put your car down on a flat surface and give it a good push. Make sure the car rolls
easily and coasts for a bit before stopping. If your car gets stuck or does not roll
smoothly make sure: your axles are parallel to each other; the hole in each bottle cap
is centered; and the straws are securely taped to the water bottle and do not wobble.
You can add some glue if tape is not sufficient.
 Tape the neck of the balloon around one end of the other straw. Wrap the tape very
tightly so the connection is airtight.
 Cut a small hole in the top of the water bottle, just big enough to push the straw
through.
 Push the free end of the straw through the hole and out the mouth of the bottle.
 Use tape to secure the straw to the bottle.
 Blow through the straw to inflate the balloon, then put your finger over the tip of the
straw to trap the air. What do you think will happen when you put the car down and
release your finger?
 Put the car down on a flat surface and release your finger. What happens?
 See what adjustments you can make to make the car go farther.
 What happens if you inflate the balloon more?
 What happens if you adjust the direction the straw is aimed? Does it work best if the
straw is aimed straight back?
 Extra: There are many different ways to build a balloon car. Turn this into an
engineering design project and try building your car with different materials. For
example: What happens if you use a cardboard box instead of a plastic bottle for the
body? What happens if you use different diameter straws? What about different
materials for the wheels and axles? Get some friends and try building different cars
and racing them against one another. What materials work the best?
Observations and results

When you inflate a balloon and let it go, it zips randomly around the room. When you tape
the balloon to a straw and attach it to the body of your car, however, you can control the
direction of the escaping air. When the end of the straw is aimed backward, the air pushes
your car forward, as described by Newton's third law of motion. Your design will be most
efficient if the straw is pointed straight back and not downward or to the side. The more you
inflate the balloon the more potential energy it stores, which in turn is converted to more
kinetic energy, according to the law of conservation of energy—so the car will go faster.
You may find your car does not work perfectly on the first try, particularly if its axles are not
parallel or the wheels wobble. Too much friction can cause the wheels to get stuck, and the
balloon will not be powerful enough to push the car forward. Test your car to make sure the
wheels spin freely and, when you give it a push, the car rolls easily. If not, you might need to
make some adjustments to your design. You should also make sure no air escapes the balloon
where it is taped to the straw, and re-tape it more tightly if necessary.

DIY Cart Toy From Recycled Materials

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DIY Cart Toy from Recycled Materials

 Cut the pen in two small pieces around 2 cm.

Observations and results

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