Balloon car racers

Build and race your own balloon powered cars.

young girl in pigtails is blowing into a balloon that is strapped onto a homemade racing car
Sasha with her homemade racing car, Image credit: The Royal Institution

Aims

Make cars which are propelled by balloon power.

ExpeRiment with designs and see what factors affect how fast or how far your car goes.

Learn how a balloon car works just like a rocket.

About this activity

Polar oceanographer and dad of two Mark Brandon does science at home with his daughters. They have fun and investigate physics, engineering and motion by building handmade race cars out of cardboard, straws and a balloon. This experiment you can do at home with your children is a great way to get kids thinking like scientists and engineers. Asking questions, modifying your kart designs, and racing against each other makes this a fun and educational activity.