Balloon Hovercraft
Balloon Hovercraft https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/hovercraft Days: 1 Mode: Individual Take-home: CD balloon hovercraft
Teaching & key ideas
Key concepts: Air pressure, air cushion, friction reduction, flow rate and repeated testing.
Hook: Slide a CD normally, then run a completed hovercraft beside it and compare friction/motion.
Test / evidence: Measure hover time or travel distance over three trials; improve one airflow variable.
Variables to change: Balloon inflation; outlet-hole size; added mass; surface smoothness.
Lesson flow
Lesson plan:
Day 1: Build → glide trials → change one variable
Video:
Build a Balloon Hovercraft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNDI7XxTDDE
Safety / cleanup:
Balloon/latex allergy alternative as needed; supervised hot glue; no deliberate balloon popping.