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  • Find Your Weight on Other Planets
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For Kids: Activities

Balloon Rocket Fun!

Make a simple rocket out of a balloon and a piece of string.

Materials:

• 1 drinking straw
• 1 long piece of string
• balloon
• tape
• 2 chairs

Procedure:

1. Thread the string through the straw.
2. Tape the ends of the string to two chairs and push them apart to create tension. The string will form the path of the rocket.
3. Blow up the balloon and hold the end so the air does not escape. Tape the balloon to the straw lengthwise so that the balloon can propel the straw.
4. Move the balloon to one end of the string and release!

You can also tape a large gallon plastic bag to the straw instead, and place the inflated balloons inside the bag holding all balloon ends shut until release. In this way, you can test different combinations of balloons in the plastic bag to see which goes the farthest or the fastest along the string path. If you set up more than one balloon rocket, you can have a balloon rocket race!