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Work together to construct and operate a drinking-straw rocket.
Recognize that several variables affect the speed and distance of a straw rocket.
Revise an engineering design to improve performance.

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For each pair of students:

2 uninflated party balloons
Straight plastic drinking straws
Approximately 12 feet of smooth string
Tape
Scissors
2 chairs of the same height
(Optional) Timer

For the whole group:

(Optional) Whiteboard or anchor chart

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Read through and familiarize yourself with the entire activity.

Ensure enough space for students to place chairs at least 10 feet apart. Also have extra straws and balloons on hand.

Review the video on balloon rockets for background information. You may wish to share this video with students to introduce the activity.

YouTube: Balloon Rocket Science Experiment

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Inflate a balloon, hold it before the group, and ask what will happen when you let go of the neck and release the air.
Discuss how the action force of the air moving out of the balloon neck causes the reaction force that moves the balloon forward. The balloon is unguided, though, so it will veer in several directions. Release the balloon to observe this motion.
Tell students that today they will make a straw balloon-powered rocket, meaning it is powered by the release of air from an inflated balloon.
Group students in pairs. If there is an odd number, form a group of 3. Distribute materials to the groups.
Have students follow these steps, which you may wish to display on a whiteboard or anchor chart. Demonstrate the steps as necessary, either for the whole group or individual students.
- Stick 2 pieces of tape near the center of the straw. Each piece should extend beyond the straw about 2 inches in both directions.
- Tie 1 end of the string to a chair.
- Thread the string through the straw, and then tie the string securely to the other chair. Move the chairs apart until the string is as taut as possible.
- Move the straw to 1 end of the suspended string. Keep the tape ends free.
- Inflate the balloon. While 1 partner pinches the balloon neck tightly, the other partner tapes the balloon below the straw, with its neck pointing toward the nearby chair.
- Release the neck of the balloon. The balloon rocket should propel itself along the string.
Have students perform several trials. Encourage students to time their results and test alterations to their rocket to improve their times. Possible variables to alter include the length of the straw, the position of the balloon below the straw, and the air pressure inside the balloon. Provide extra tape and balloons as needed.
(Optional) Stage balloon-rocket races, organize a tournament, and crown a champion for the day.
Reconvene the whole group. Survey the group for the fastest time, and recognize these students for their achievement. Then lead a discussion of the activity.
- What do your trials suggest is the most significant variable in the speed of the balloon rocket? Is it the air pressure inside the balloon, the position of the balloon below the straw, or the length of the straw? How do you explain this result? (Most likely, the air pressure inside the balloon had the greatest effect on rocket speed. This variable directly affects the force that propels the balloon.)
- How do you think the balloon rockets that we tested today are similar to real rockets that travel into space? (Both operate on the same principle: the force of gases rushing out of the rocket propels it in the opposite direction. For a real rocket, the propulsion force is upward, and it is guided with very sophisticated mechanisms.)
- Do you think the balloon rockets we tested today could be applied to a real-life engineering task? How so? (Conceivably, a rocket propulsion system could be applied to move a cab horizontally along a wire.)

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Instead of stretching the string horizontally, have students tie each end to different portions of the 2 chairs, such as a leg and a seat back. Then have students evaluate how well their balloon rockets can climb and how the slope of the ascents affects the speed.

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Balloon Rockets Challenge

Balloon Rockets Challenge

Balloon Rockets Challenge

Overview