Floating Balloon Pucks (Juliana Capra)

Author

Juliana Capra, Science Education Master's Cohort

Principles

• Friction

• Transfer of energy

• Newton's laws of motion (Inertia)

• Acceleration

• Uniform velocity

Standards

Materials needed

• Puck and Baloon set from The Science Source (or you make your own with these instructions)

• Extra balloons

• Extra rubber bands (small size)

• Small mass(es), washers, or objects to mount to puck- to increase mass

• Smooth flat surface (such as a table or floor) to place the pucks on

Procedure

1. Insert a small pas tic tube into the smaller end of the rubber stopper

2. Slip the neck of a balloon onto the large end of the rubber stopper

3. Fasten the balloon to the rubber stopper by wrapping a rubber band around the neck of the ballon several times (3 or 4 times is best), at this time the balloon can be inflated and pinched closed or it can be inflated later

4. Place the free end of the plastic tube through the hole in the top, then the middle, and the bottom of one puck. Make sure the plastic passes through the bottom piece of the puck, but does not protrude.

You can use large washers or other symmetrical objects to mount to the middle part of the puck to change the mass of the puck

Explanation

When the puck is placed on a smooth flat surface, it will float on a thin cushion of air minimizing any resistance to movement due to friction

Inertia states that objects in motion will stay in motion, unless acted upon by another force, such as friction.

In the case of these pucks, the air leaving the inflated balloon helps to decrease the amount of fiction acting against the puck. Because the friction is decreased the puck is able to move for a longer distance- compared to a puck without a balloon.

Questions

1. What are examples of friction acting upon other objects?

2. What is a different object that can decrease friction on the puck?

3. How does friction act on inertia?

Everyday examples of the principles illustrated

Inertia- passengers in a moving car

Air hockey table

Hovercrafts

Photos

Movies

Small balloon puck

Large balloon puck

References

Newton's Laws of Motion

Inertia

Make you own balloon pucks with household items