Application of the Newton’s Laws of Motion

in the Balloon Powered Car Model

A Research Study

Presented to

Mr. Ahdrian Gernale

General Physics 1

Cavite School of St. Mark

Bacoor City, Cavite

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the requirements in General Physics 1

BY:

Jomarie R. Gutierrez

Maria Erica Eunice P. Alinsonorin

Rhainne Irish B. Fuertes

March 2019
 Table of Contents

Introduction …………………………………………………………............................. 1

Methodology ……………………………………………………………………………. 2

Results ……………………………………………………………………………. 6

Discussion ……………………………………………………………………………. 7

Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………. 8

Acknowledgment ………………………………………………………………………….… 9

References ……………………………………………………………………………. 10
 Introduction

The model that we’ve come up with is the Balloon-Powered Car, where we can apply the
Newton’s Laws of Motion – Law of Inertia, Law of Acceleration and Law of Interaction.

Newton’s first law states that every object will remain at rest unless there is an external force
applied. This is also referred as the Law of Inertia. The relevant idea here is that if there is no net force
being applied on an object, the object will remain at rest and will maintain a constant velocity. However,
if an external force is applied, the velocity will change. In short, objects at equilibrium will not
accelerate.

Newton’s second law states that the acceleration of an object is dependent into two variables:
the force acting upon the object and the mass of the object. This law is commonly known as the Law of
Acceleration. The acceleration varies directly on the net force acting on it, and inversely on the mass of
the object. Fnet=ma shows that if an object’s mass is increasing, its acceleration is decreasing.

Newton’s third law of motion states that in every action (force) there is an equal and opposite
reaction. This statement means that there is a pair of forces acting upon the two objects that are
interacting, namely action and reaction. Neither of this two forces will act without the other and they
are equal in strength and opposite in direction. This is also known as the Law of Interaction.

The purpose of this research regarding our model Balloon-Powered Car is to show the concept
of each Law of Motion.

Our hypothesis is that the potential energy inside the balloon is converted to kinetic energy, or
energy of motion, of the fast-moving air through the opening. Because the air is pushed out
rapidly backwards, there is a reaction force that pushes the balloon forward which demonstrates the
Newton’s third law of motion.

In building this model, we are expected to create a Balloon-Powered Car that can release the
most energy out of it and make it travel the longest distance it can achieve with the possible fastest time.
 Methodology

We made two models that are made up of different materials – illustration board and a folder.
The first model is composed of illustration board as its body while the second model is composed of
folder.

In making the first model you will be needing the following materials: 4 identical bottle caps,
2 pieces of 10.5 cm barbeque sticks, 1 piece of a 12 inches balloon, 2 bendable straws, glue sticks and
glue gun, 1 perfume cap, masking tape, ruler, pencil, scissors/cutter, 2 pieces of paper straw, illustration
board and paint (only if you want to design your car model).

Figure 1.1. Side view of the first model. Figure 1.2. Base of the first model.

Figure 1.3. Top view of the first model.

Note that the size of your illustration board varies on which part it will be used.
 In making the second model you will be needing the following materials: 4 identical bottle caps,
2 pieces of 13 cm barbeque sticks, 1 piece of a 12 inches balloon, 2 bendable straws, glue sticks and
glue gun, 1 perfume cap, masking tape, ruler, pencil, scissors/cutter, 2 pieces of paper straw, folder and
paint (only if you want to design your car model).

Figure 2.1. Top view of the second model. Figure 2.2. Side view of the second model.

Figure2.3. Base of the second model.

Note that the size of your folder varies on which part it will be used.

Once we finished the two models, we started weighing it using the Triple Beam Balance to get
its mass. Then, we exerted a net force on it by giving 2 maximum blows of air from our mouth. By this,
we can approximately estimate and give the two models a certain amount of external force applied.
 Figure 3.1 and 3.2. First model’s mass.

Figure 4.1 and 4.2. Second model’s mass.

After getting its mass, we set up a starting point where we will put our models and test how far
it will go. Since, the two models is composed of two different materials. We then get their distance by
using a meter stick.

Figure 5. Figure 6.
First model’s Second model’s
distance from the distance from the
starting point. starting point.
Figure 7. Distance of the both models from each other
 Results

Balloon-powered car is an excellent demonstration of the three laws of motion – specifically

the Law of Inertia, Law of Acceleration and Law of Interaction. In gathering data for this research,
we’ve also noticed and discovered that energies are present in our car.

The first law of motion, which is the law of inertia, is shown in both of our models. Both of the
different models was at first at rest. The balloon-powered car did not move until there was an external
force applied.

In the second law of motion, law of acceleration, our two different models showed different
accelerations. The first model which is made up of illustration board had a slower acceleration. As stated
𝐹
in the formula a = 𝑚, where a is equal to the net force applies over the mass of the object, the acceleration
of our model decreases because of the increased in its mass. While our second model which is composed
of a folder, had a faster acceleration. Since its mass is lighter, its acceleration is faster.

Table 1. Comparison of the two models

Model m t d
Model 1 57.8 g 3.04 s 0.216 m
illustration board
Model 2 37.4 g 4.93 s 0.814 m
folder

As you can see, their distance has a big difference, as well as their time. The explanation beyond
this is in the second law of motion’s formula. Since mass is inversely proportional to acceleration,
meaning their product is equal to a constant value which is the force, and as one of them decreases, the
other variable increases.

In the simplest form of the law of interaction – for every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction, this can also be observed in the both of our models. By labeling the balloon as the first object
and the car itself as the second object, we can say that while the air pressure inside the balloon (first
object) is releasing, it causes the car (second object) to move in opposite direction or simply as the
balloon pushes the air in one direction, and the air pushes bask on the car to make it move in an opposite
direction. Where we can see the third law of motion that states that an object in constant velocity will
continue moving on a constant velocity unless acted upon by an unbalanced external force.

As mentioned above, there are energies we’ve noticed during the testing of the two models.
One of these is the potential energy which is already present inside the balloon and the other one is the
kinetic energy. Potential energy which be converted, according to the law of conservation of energy,
once the air flows inside the balloon, the moving car is also using a kinetic energy.
 Discussion

According to the site https://studymoose.com/balloon-powered-car-essay, we have the same

results. Their model and our model both worked. They also made the straw pointed backward rather
than putting on the side part nor making it face downwards. It is more convenient for us to blow the
straw and put air pressure in the balloon which will help in giving the balloon more kinetic energy for
it to travel longer.

The result stated above is the same with https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/build-a-

balloon-powered-car/. However, they differ in the problems they’ve encounter such as if the wheels
are not parallel, too much friction can get the car stuck, or if the choice of your balloon has a low
quality, then as the day passes by, it can change the volume of your balloon.

As for our model, we didn’t encounter any problems. However, we still would like to
recommend that if you’re going to make this model, make sure the you have: first, enough length of
bendable straws so that it will be easier for you to put air pressure inside the balloon, second, make
sure that your wheels or axles is parallel to each other (not slightly slanted), so that they will both
function and travel on the same direction, third, make sure that you tight your balloons securely so
that the air entering the balloon won’t escape easily and lastly, make sure that your wheels will
function on different ground such as tiles, cements, and tables.

If we were to repeat this model, we are going to try different materials such as plastic bottle
for its main body and change the wheels into CDs. In regards to the topic given to us, you can try
making the Balloon-Powered Boat, which has the same concept with this model but they differ on
what medium they are going to travel.
 Conclusion

We therefore conclude that the distance covered by the car varies on its mass, even if the applied
force to the cars have the same amount. The heavier car travelled a shorter distance than the lighter car.
So, as the mass increases, the distance that will be covered by the object will decrease and as the mass
gets bigger, the slower it accelerates, and as the mass decreases, the distance that will be covered by the
object also increases and the lower its mass, the faster it accelerates.
 Acknowledgements

To God Almighty, who never gets tired of guiding me all throughout this journey.

To our family, who keep on supporting us on our studies.

To our teacher, Mr. Ahdrian Gernale, whose perseverance in sharing our knowledge,
always stays consistent.

To ourselves, who succeeded in surviving this journey.

 References

Hall, Nancy. NASA. Date published May 5, 2015. https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-

12/airplane/newton.html?fbclid=IwAR1qPEnHol1XQWXPDOClXyQBcIPm0fKLn6gnfjr-
8aAzeLwi1ZuyAeADI2k.

The Physics Classroom. ND. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/newtlaws/u2l3a.cfm.

Mcvetta, Ashlie. NASA. Last modified June 12, 2014. https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-

12/BGP/Ashlie/BalloonRocketCar_easy.html?fbclid=IwAR13vvZTN8UEHwL-
UzN1_Su0yZjmrfkSqFSU4fLerbKcQjtipLZQdgMza9Y.

Emily and Wendy. Blogger. Last modified December 12, 2011.

https://turtlesandtortoisesfordummies.blogspot.com/2011/12/analysis.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR37f7h9
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“Balloon Powered Car.” Study Moose. Last modified March 28, 2016.
https://studymoose.com/balloon-powered-car-essay.

"Build a Balloon-Powered Car." Scientific American. Last modified May 17, 2017.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/build-a-balloon-powered-car/.