Names : Deyan, Elizabeth, David, and Sam Section 8-3

Using Trade Secrets & Motivation to Beat the Game

Balloon Pop

I. Objective of the Game:

You pay and are given a certain number of darts. You then throw the darts to try to pop
the balloons positioned on a wall a couple of feet in front of you. You get a certain
amount of points every time you pop a balloon. When you reach a certain amount of total
points or pop a special balloon you win a prize such as a stuffed animal.
II. “Trick Factor”:
Identify the “inside scoop,” as in what is it about the game, the physical setup or the skill
required, that makes the game a challenge for players.

➢ Some of the balloons are a little deflated, making them next to impossible to pop. The
darts simply sink in and bounce off.
➢ Sometimes the balloons are more spaced out, which means that you need to have very
accurate throws to pop them. As a result, to have success in playing this game, you
must have eye-hand coordination to be able to throw the projectiles in a straight line at
your target.
➢ As the dart flys through the air, gravity acts on it making it drop a little bit down rather
than flying straight. Therefore, if you aim at a balloon and don’t throw hard enough, the
dart will drop while it flies and hit the wall below the balloon.

III. Winning the Game:

When playing the game there are a few different things you can do to increase
your chances of succeeding. To begin with, you should aim for the balloons that are
more inflated because deflated balloons have less resistance. It is likely that your dart
will just sink into the balloon a little and bounce off because the balloon will exert an
equal force back at the dart as per Newton’s Third Law. However, when the balloon is
fully inflated it will have more resistance. Before bouncing off, the dart can puncture the
balloon, popping it.
Strength is also your friend in this game. You should pull back your hand before
throwing the projectile, increasing the potential energy. This way, when you throw the
dart, it will have more kinetic energy and acceleration causing it to exert a greater force
on the balloon you hit, increasing your chances of popping it. After all, according to
Newton’s Second Law, more acceleration with the same mass equals more force.
Another easy way to increase the force applied by your dart is to throw it as straight as
possible, decreasing friction and air resistance.
Finally, while the balloons are at rest, you have to be careful when aiming. You
should use the top of the balloon as a reference point since gravity will act on the dart as
it flies through the air, making it curve slightly downwards. This way, it is more likely that
your dart lands smack-dab in the center of the balloon, hopefully popping it and winning
you a prize. Also, remember to take your time and aim carefully because as the Law of
Inertia states, once the dart is in motion it will continue moving at the same speed in the
same direction unless it is acted upon by an unbalanced force. You won’t be able to
make any corrections to its trajectory once it is in motion.
Have fun and good luck!
Be the coach and provide the players with the “words of wisdom” they need to win. Give them
the information and strategies to use so that they meet the objective the first time [or second.. or
third.. if they get 3 chances] to WIN the big prize!

Note: ​ Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion and the following terms must be strategically incorporated
into the “Pep Talk,” so as to reflect the correct meaning within context, but done in such a way
that makes sense in everyday language.
Laws to Include — Law 1 [part 1 & 2] Law 2 [ f, m, a] Law 3

Terms to Include —
at rest motion reference point
force mass acceleration
speed direction inertia
acceleration friction ​gravity
exert resist velocity
energy potential kinetic