Mahopac Middle School sixth graders put physics into motion during an engaging balloon car project led by technology teacher Victoria Mealey.
The hands-on activity introduced students to Newton’s Laws of Motion, principles engineers use to understand and explain how objects move. Using that knowledge, students designed, decorated and constructed their own balloon-powered race cars, choosing between two different car patterns as the foundation for their builds.
Throughout the project, students applied both engineering and math skills. They calculated the mass of their completed cars, raced them down a track, measured the distance traveled and determined each car’s speed in miles per hour.
“My favorite part of this project is watching the students design and construct their cars,” Mealey said. “They start with a blank canvas and take great care in assembling their vehicles, all while applying real scientific concepts like force, mass and motion in a hands-on way.”
Once construction was complete, Mealey attached a balloon to each car, which provided the thrust needed to send the vehicles racing forward as each balloon deflated. On race day, students eagerly watched their designs in action, with the longest distance recorded traveling more than 30 feet.
After the races, students reflected on their results, using Newton’s Laws of Motion to explain why their cars performed the way they did. The project offered a fun, memorable way for students to connect classroom concepts to real-world applications and see science come to life.
