Balloon Rockets Experiment
Take off into learning with this fun balloon rockets experiment. Littles will love making the rocket fly across the room.
Why Do Balloon Rockets Experiment
It’s Simple
Requiring only a few items that you probably already have on hand, a balloon rockets experiment is a fantastic way to introduce preschoolers to scientific ideas in a hands-on (and cheap) way.
Ignites Curiosity
After seeing a balloon rockets experiment in action, littles may start to gather up other things to try to launch on the rocket’s path (string and straw). Hopefully, they will figure out that other things won’t work unless they have a mode of energy like the balloon.
Motor Skills Development
Threading string through a straw requires a bit of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Once the balloon rockets experiment is underway, littles will chase after the rocket, which engages their gross motor skills.
Teaches Cause and Effect
Preschoolers can easily see what happens once they let go of the balloon– it flies down the string! What a fun and easy visual way to show cause and effect.
How It Shows How Rocket Engines Work
Air is trapped inside the balloon and can only escape once the mouth is opened (when it is let go of). The sudden release of air shooting out the back of the balloon propels the balloon forward.
The air leaving the balloon is the action. The reaction is the balloon moving forward.
This is just like how real rockets work, thanks to Newton’s Third Law of Physics!
There is a large amount of hot air (because of combustion—a reaction that creates hot gas). This hot air goes through a nozzle at a high speed. Because the air goes out the bottom, it creates an equal and opposite effect—launching the rocket!
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Items Needed
*balloon
*string
*straw
*tape
*clothes pin (optional; but helpful)
Balloon Rockets Experiment: How To
1. Take one end of the string and tie it to a door knob, a chair, or other sturdy support.
2. Thread the straw through the other end of the string.
3. Pull the string tight and tie the second end of the string to another sturdy support across the room from the first support.
4. Inflate the balloon and twist the end of the balloon. Do NOT tie it off.
Tip: Clip a clothespin to the twisted part to hold it shut.
5. With the mouth end towards you, attach the inflated balloon to the straw using tape.
6. Let go of the mouth part of the balloon and watch the balloon rocket fly!
7. Reinflate the balloon and try it again (and again).
Rocket Engine Demonstration for Kids
Encourage your little ones to try out new ways to do the balloon rockets experiment by providing other items (like a balloon pump to pump the balloon back up, small items to add to the balloon to see if it still moves, stickers, etc.).
Not only does this promote scientific thinking, but it may give you a few minutes alone.
