Engineering Design Task: Balloon Car

Name: _______________ Group Members: __________________________

Learning Outcome s

I can construct devices that use wheels and axles,

and demonstrate and describe their use.

I can use simple forces to power a device.

I can apply control mechanisms.

I can design and construct several models of a

device and evaluate each model.

I can work cooperatively with my group to design,

construct and evaluate devices.

Problem: Design and construct a balloon car

that can go the farthest distance.

Criteria:

_____ The car must roll.

_____ The car must be propelled by the force of air leaving a balloon.

_____ The car may only use one balloon.

 Engineering Design Task: Balloon Car

Step 1: Design your balloon car. Draw your design and label the parts.

Step 2: Construct your balloon car.

Step 3: Test your balloon car.

Distance Travelled Distance Travelled

Trial Trial
(cm) (cm)

1 7

2 8

3 9

4 10

5 11

6 12
 Engineering Design Task: Balloon Car

Step 4: Evaluate your balloon car. Record your observations in the

table below.

Strengths Weaknesses

Step 5: Improve your balloon car. Modify your design to make it

better! List the modifications you make to your design below.
Test your modified design.

Modifications

Engineering Design Task: Balloon Car

Reflection

Glue a picture of your balloon car in the box below.

Describe how your balloon car works.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Describe the challenges and successes of this task.

What went well? What did your group struggle with?

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________
 Engineering Design Task: Balloon Car

Self-Assessment

Le arning Outc om es E xc ellen t Pr oficient Sa tisfacto ry Li mit ed

I can construct devices that use

wheels and axles, and demonstrate
and describe their use.

I can use simple forces to power a

device.

I can apply control mechanisms.

I can design and construct several

models of a device and evaluate
each model.

I can work cooperatively with my

group to design, construct and
evaluate devices.

Teacher Assessment

Le arning Outc om es E xc ellen t Pr oficient Sa tisfacto ry Li mit ed

I can construct devices that use

wheels and axles, and demonstrate
and describe their use.

I can use simple forces to power a

device.

I can apply control mechanisms.

I can design and construct several

models of a device and evaluate
each model.

I can work cooperatively with my

group to design, construct and
evaluate devices.