Make It
Balloon Rocket
When a rocket launches, its propellant pushes out one end so that rocket can be propelled in the other direction. In this activity, a balloon is propelled with air.
Note: This activity is designed to show the basic structure of the solar system and some of its characteristics. Relative sizes of the items representing the sun and planets and their distance from each other are not to scale.
Materials
plastic milkshake straw
long party balloons
clear cellophane tape
6-8 meters of nylon filament (fishing line)
scissors
spring clothespin or binder clip
rocket picture or drawing
2 chairs
Instructions
Watch a video of a rocket launch like this one:
Ask your child if he/she knows how a rocket works.
Thread the fishing line through the straw, then attach it to the backs of two chairs. Move the chairs apart so that the line is pulled tight.
Inflate on of the balloons, keeping it tightly closed with your fingers or a binder clip.
Carefully tape the balloon to the straw, then slide it to the middle of the fishing line.
Talk to your child about making an educated guess - or hypothesis - about what will happen when you let go of the end of the balloon to let the air out.
Countdown to launch and test to the hypothesis.
Try other launch configurations, add payload (tape paper clips to balloon) or make other modifications to the balloon assembly to test further hypotheses or configurations.
Don't forget to share pictures of your rocket launches!
