1. Rocket
Balloon
The

2. Balloon Rocket
This is an activity in which students use a number of the science processes to collect and treat data.
In addition to process skills, students have the opportunity to deal with some fundamental science ideas such as:
action-reaction - inertia - variable
resistance - energy
This is also a good activity to illustrate some of the basic tenets of science methodology, such as repeatability of observation and testing of premises.

3. Balloon Rocket
Be sure to review the reading on the Science Processes .
Answer all questions posed during the activity.

4. Materials Needed A balloon About 10 - 15 meters of stout string
A plastic soda straw
Masking tape
A meter stick
Writing materials

5. Step 1
Attach one end of the string so it can be stretched tightly across a span of about 10 meters. Here I’ve stretched it across my living room between two door handles.

6. Step 2
Inflate the balloon and attach the straw to it with a piece of masking tape.
Be careful to align the straw along the length of the balloon.

7. Step 3 Thread the loose end of the string through the straw.
Draw the string up tightly and fasten it securely.

8. Step 4 Inflate the balloon then release it.
Watch as it flies along the string.
In addition to sliding along the string, what other motions do you see?

9. Step 5 How far did the balloon go before it stopped?
What caused it to stop?
If you tried it again would it go the same distance? If so, why? If not, why not?

10. Step 6
Repeat launching the balloon rocket until you feel that you have enough data to be able to predict its behavior.
Be sure to operationally define such things as your points of measure. For example, are you measuring from the end of the straw? Which end? It doesn’t matter as long as you are consistent.

11. Step 6 Continued… Let’s see a piece of video so you can
compare how your
rocketballoon worked!
Just click on the
picture to see!!! w

12. Step 7 As mentioned in the previous slide, consistency is very
important in science. We believe that nature is understandable
and even predictable given enough data. But the data must be
very good data and the way to get good data is to be precise
in observation. This is why science seems so concerned
with measuring virtually everything possible about a
phenomenon.
With our activity here, we must measure not only the
outcomes (how far the rocket traveled) but also the inputs (those
things that caused the rocket to travel in the first place). Clearly, inflating
the balloon is an input. How could this variable be measured
and controlled? Are there other variables that need to be
controlled? Collect a subset of data again, trying to control inputs.

13. Step 8
To the discussion board post a narrative that explains the science behind the balloon rocket. Use terms such as:
energy input and output - resistance - inertia
variable - action - reaction
Also include a paragraph outlining which process skills were used and how.

14. You have completed this activity!