Materials Needed:
- Balloon
- Straw or skewer
- Two plastic bottle caps or straws for wheels (optional)
- Masking tape or double-sided tape
- Glue or hot glue (optional)
- Scissors
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Straw:
- Cut a straw or skewer to a suitable length for your balloon car design. This will serve as the car's axle.
2. Assemble the Wheels:
- If using bottle caps, glue or hot glue them to the ends of the cut straw or skewer, ensuring they are perpendicular to the axle.
- If using straws, cut two pieces and insert one end of each straw into the holes in the bottle caps, creating the wheels.
3. Attach the Axle to the Car Frame:
- Position the cut straw or skewer across the balloon car's frame.
- Secure it in place using masking tape or double-sided tape. Make sure the axle is positioned at the center of the car's frame.
4. Test and Adjust:
- Check if the wheels spin freely on the axle. If they don't, adjust the tape to ensure smooth spinning.
5. Attach the Balloon:
- Secure the end of the balloon around the straw or skewer near the center of the car. Ensure it stays in place and doesn't slip off easily.
6. Release the Balloon:
- Once the balloon is attached and the wheels are securely fastened, release the balloon, and watch your balloon car race!
Variation: Using Straw Wheels
If you don't have plastic bottle caps, you can create wheels using straws.
- For each wheel, insert one end of a straw into the center of another straw, creating a cross-like shape.
- Place a small piece of masking tape or double-sided tape around the intersection to hold them together.
- Push the other ends of the straws through the holes in the bottle caps, ensuring they go all the way through.
- Bend the protruding ends of the straws outward to secure them in place.
These variations may require some experimentation to find the best approach for your balloon car design. Be kreatifve and happy racing!
