Bring the wonder of the recent SpaceX rocket launch to your home with this simple but high-energy activity! Your kiddos will be heaving such a BLAST, that they won’t realize they’re learning!
Did You Know: When air rushes out it creates a forward motion called THRUST. In this activity, thrust is caused by the deflating balloon forcing the air out. In a real rocket, thrust is created by the force of burning rocket fuel as it blasts from the rocket’s engine. How cool!
For this activity you will need the following items:
- Balloons
- String
- Straws
- Scissors
- Tape
- 2 Chairs or Two Walls
Now here’s what you do:
- Extend the length of the string as far as you can, given the limitations of your space.
- Blow up a balloon.
- Without letting the air out, carefully tape the balloon to the straw.
- Clasping the neck of the balloon tightly, count to 3. Let go! Watch your balloon whizz down the course!!
Turn this activity into a family-friendly competition! Grab a timer and a piece of paper and a pencil to record how long it takes your balloon to whizz down one end of the string to the other. Explore what happens when you blow the balloons up with more or less air. Are your results different when you use a shorter straw? Let us know your observations!
Inspiration: WhatDoWeDoAllDay.com
