MATI TEKLEMARIAM
Balloon Hovercraft
!
The purpose of my science
experiment was to see if the size
of a balloon in my DIY hovercraft
affects how long the hovercraft is
suspended in air. To test that, I
used a small balloon, a mediumsized balloon, and a large balloon.
In my hypothesis, I said that the
large balloon would allow the
hovercraft to stay suspended in
the air for the longest time
because it had the most air to blow
out.
!
To do my experiment, first I
needed all my materials. Hereʼs
what I needed: an old CD or DVD,
a dish soap bottle cap, hot glue or
superglue (the superglue must be
dried overnight), one small
balloon, one medium-sized
balloon, one large balloon, a
pushpin, tape, and a timer.
!
There, youʼre ready to
start. First, tape over the hole of
the CD or DVD. Next, poke six
holes in the tape with the pushpin.
Then, flip over the CD. Glue the
bottom of the dish soap cap over
the hole of the CD. Next, blow up
the small balloon. After blowing it
up, slide the neck of the balloon
over the top of the dish soap cap.
The get your timer out. When
youʼre ready to start the hovercraft,
pull open the bottle cap. Time how
long the hovercraft is floating on
the thin pocket of air.
!
After doing this experiment,
my results showed that my
hypothesis was right. The small
balloon allowed the hovercraft to
stay suspended in the air for 33.28
seconds. The medium-sized
balloon allowed the hovercraft to
stay suspended in the air for one
minute and 20.34 seconds. The
large balloon let the hovercraft
stay in the air for two minutes and
34.28 seconds.
!
In conclusion, the data
supported my hypothesis. I know
that because in my hypothesis I
said that the largest balloon would
let the hovercraft stay suspended
in the air for the largest time and it
did. What I learned from this
experiment was that the more
volume something has in it the
farther or longer it will go. For
example, the amount of air you put
in a hot air balloon when traveling,
or the amount of gas you put in a
car.
!