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Home » Primary Science » Key Stage 1 Science » Balloon Powered LEGO® Car

Balloon Powered LEGO® Car

Modified: Feb 25, 2025 · Published: Aug 18, 2014 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

A balloon-powered car is a great way to learn about kinetic energy, potential energy, conservation of energy and Newton’s Laws of Motion. When you blow up a balloon, it stores potential energy in the form of the stretched skin of the balloon and compressed air inside the balloon. When you let go of the balloon, the stored energy is converted into kinetic energy as the balloon flies around ( some energy is also converted to heat because of friction ). The laws of conservation of energy say that energy doesn’t disappear but changes to different forms.

When you let go of the balloon, the stored energy is converted into kinetic energy as the balloon flies around ( some energy is also converted to heat because of friction ). The laws of conservation of energy say that energy doesn’t disappear but changes to different forms.

We’ve made balloon-powered cars using cardboard before, but this LEGO® version worked well and made it easy to add and remove bits to make the car heavier or lighter.

How to make a balloon powered car

We added a section onto the back of a LEGO car to hold a balloon, blew up the balloon and then watched the car zoom along as the air escaped from the balloon.

I need to spend more time perfecting our design, but this was a good start and gave us lots of ideas for the future.

Balloon powered LEGO car
Balloon powered LEGO car

Balloon Powered LEGO Car

Things to change

Our car fell over quite a lot. I think a lighter, wider car would be better, as it would be more stable.

Another idea is to place a straw into the end of the balloon to make it easier to blow up each time.

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Our balloon-powered car is also a great example of Newton’s Third Law of Motion.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

Air is forced out of the end of the balloon, which means there must be an equal and opposite reaction pushing the car forward!

You can also see this in action with a water powered bottle rocket.

Balloon Powered Car Extension Activity

Design a LEGO® car first, then consider the features the car needs to work well, considering the above points.

You can also make a balloon powered car from cardboard and milk jug tops!

Labelled image of a balloon powered car

More LEGO Activity Ideas

Design, build and test a LEGO parachute or try one of my other science experiments using LEGO.

Balloon powered car LEGO STEM challenge

Last Updated on February 25, 2025 by Emma Vanstone

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Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

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  2. Hayle Larimore

    January 09, 2018 at 9:22 pm

    I found this very helpful

    Reply
  3. Hayle Larimore

    January 09, 2018 at 9:35 pm

    do you think I can turn the scribble bot into a middle school science project

    Reply

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