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WHAT WILL YOU DO?:
Thrust and drag are two of the basic principles of aerodynamics, the study of how air and other gases move. In this hands-on activity, students will launch a variety of balloon rockets to demonstrate these principles. More information on Newton's third law of motion and Sir Isaac Newton can be found in the lesson on "Inertia".
STEPS TO FOLLOW:
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Run the string through the straw.
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Tie both ends of the string to stationary objects such as a door knob, knob on a desk, and/or a chair back. The line should be stretched tightly at least 2-3 feet off the floor.
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Blow up a balloon. Hold the end tightly (with your fingers, the clothespin, or a clip) so the air doesn't escape.
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MATERIALS:
Balloons, Some Round, Some Long
Non-flexible Soda Straw
Tape
5-20 Feet Of String
Clothespin, Paperclips, Or Some Other Type Of Clip (Optional)
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Tape balloon underneath the straw. Be sure to line up the end of the balloon
parallel with the straw so that the
thrust will be in the direction of the string.
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What do you think will happen when you release the balloon? . Will it move? If so, inwhich direction? Release the end of the balloon.
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Repeat these steps with different amounts of air in the balloon, or with different size and shape balloons.
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