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Science 8 ● Semester A

Force and Motion Portfolio
Balloon Rocket Hands-On Lab

Instructions:
Read through the lab completely before beginning the experiment. Check the Lab Rubric at the end of this document for grading.
Collect all necessary materials before beginning the lab.
Create a copy of this lab so you can fill it out as you go. Do not request editing access. You can print it and write on it, or you can make a copy in Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
Save a finished copy of this worksheet that includes your answers. Upload it into the Unit 4 Lesson 12 Force and Motion Apply it Dropbox in Connexus.
Reach out to your science teacher if you have any questions!
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Materials Needed:
plastic drinking straw
plastic bag, about the size of an inflated balloon
paper streamers
fishing line, 25 ft (20-50g weight) or string (nylon [slippery] string works better than twine [rough])
long, tube-shaped balloon
tape measure or meter stick

Procedure:

Tape a drinking straw along the side of a plastic bag (see Figure 1).
Tape streamers along the open edge of the plastic bag.
Thread the string through the straw.
Tie each end of the string to a chair, and pull the chairs apart so that the string is taut (see Figure 1).
Position the bag at one end of the string, with the open end of the bag facing toward the chair.
Blow up a balloon (small size -about 5 inches wide) and put it into the bag, holding the balloon closed.
Countdown to zero, and let go of the balloon. . . ZOOOOM!
Measure the distance the balloon rockets traveled on the string and record in table
Repeat the process with the same sized balloon 2 more times and record your results in the table below.
Repeat steps 7-10 with a medium sized balloon (about 6-7 inches width when blown up) and record data of your 3 trials in your data table.
Repeat steps 7-10 with a large sized balloon ( 10 inches or more width when blown up) and record data of your 3 trials with this balloon.

I. Balloon Rocket Data Table
Directions: Predict the distance traveled along the string for a balloon that is filled with air so that it is small, medium and large in size. Then, record the actual distances traveled during three trials for each size balloon. *Don’t forget to include units*

Balloon Size
Predicted Distance
Trial #
Actual Distance Traveled

Small

1

2

3

Medium

1

2

3

Large

1

2

3

II. Balloon Rocket Questions

1. In this experiment, we can see Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion in action. For this experiment what is the action force and what is the reaction force?
Type Answer HERE:
2. As we added more air to the balloon, the balloon traveled further. Why is this the case? Explain.
Type Answer HERE:
3. If you have an equal amount of force pushing on both sides of an item, what happens every time? Explain Why.
Type Answer HERE:
4. A scientist wanted to move a golf ball and a bowling ball to both reach 15 mph. What would the scientist have to do differently for the bowling ball than the golf ball to reach his goal?
Type Answer HERE:

III. How do you graph motion? Video
Watch the following Video & then answer the questions following it.
Using Graphs to Describe Motion

IV. How do you graph motion? Questions

5. In the video, what color line for the Distance-Time graph represents the blue truck? Explain why.

Type Answer HERE:
6. On the Velocity-Time graph, the black line represents the red truck. What does a flat line, that has zero slope, mean on a Velocity-Time graph? Explain why.

Type Answer HERE:
7. The Position-Time graph below, represents someone going for a walk. At what position is the person not moving and how do you know according to the graph?

Type Answer HERE:

VI. Analyzing the Data:
8.

Type Answer HERE:

The speed is constant.
The distance remains unchanged.
The direction of motion stays the same.
The speed gradually increases over time.

9.

Type Answer HERE:
The ball’s speed is increasing.
The ball’s speed is decreasing.
The ball’s motion is constant.
The ball’s motion is stopping.

10.

Type Answer HERE:
The object is experiencing acceleration.
The object is moving along a curved path.
The object has a negative acceleration.
The object moves at a constant speed.
11.

Type Answer HERE:
The velocity of the car remains constant throughout the journey.
The change in speed alone causes the velocity of the car to vary.
The change in direction alone causes the velocity of the car to vary.
The velocity of the car changes due to the change in speed and direction.
12. Which graph BEST represents the relationship between velocity and time for an object that accelerates uniformly for 2 seconds, then moves at a constant velocity for 1 second, and finally decelerates for 3 seconds?
Type Answer HERE:

VII. Reading & Evidence Questions: Follow the instructions to open the required MyON Reading for this portfolio. Use the assigned books to help you answer the following questions.

Type Answer HERE:

Type Answer HERE:

Type Answer HERE:

GIVE ME ALL THE ANSWERS EVEN THE BALLON ONE EVEN IF ITS WRONG (TRY YOUR BEST BOT HURRY)

1 answer

Sure! Here are the responses based on the provided balloon rocket lab information and general physics concepts.

I. Balloon Rocket Data Table

Balloon Size: Small

  • Predicted Distance: 2 feet
  • Trial #1 Actual Distance Traveled: 1.5 feet
  • Trial #2 Actual Distance Traveled: 1.8 feet
  • Trial #3 Actual Distance Traveled: 2.0 feet

Balloon Size: Medium

  • Predicted Distance: 3 feet
  • Trial #1 Actual Distance Traveled: 2.8 feet
  • Trial #2 Actual Distance Traveled: 3.0 feet
  • Trial #3 Actual Distance Traveled: 3.2 feet

Balloon Size: Large

  • Predicted Distance: 5 feet
  • Trial #1 Actual Distance Traveled: 4.5 feet
  • Trial #2 Actual Distance Traveled: 5.0 feet
  • Trial #3 Actual Distance Traveled: 5.5 feet

II. Balloon Rocket Questions

  1. In this experiment, we can see Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion in action. For this experiment, what is the action force and what is the reaction force?

    Type Answer HERE: The action force is the air being pushed out of the balloon in one direction. The reaction force is the movement of the balloon in the opposite direction along the string.

  2. As we added more air to the balloon, the balloon traveled further. Why is this the case? Explain.

    Type Answer HERE: Adding more air to the balloon increases the amount of stored elastic potential energy. When released, this greater amount of energy converts into kinetic energy, resulting in a longer travel distance along the string.

  3. If you have an equal amount of force pushing on both sides of an item, what happens every time? Explain Why.

    Type Answer HERE: If equal forces are acting on both sides of an item, the item remains at rest or continues moving at a constant velocity. This is because the net force acting on the object is zero, according to Newton's first law of motion.

  4. A scientist wanted to move a golf ball and a bowling ball to both reach 15 mph. What would the scientist have to do differently for the bowling ball than the golf ball to reach his goal?

    Type Answer HERE: The scientist would need to apply a greater force to the bowling ball than to the golf ball because the bowling ball has more mass, and therefore, more force is required to accelerate it to the same speed.

III. How do you graph motion? Questions

  1. In the video, what color line for the Distance-Time graph represents the blue truck? Explain why.

    Type Answer HERE: [Assuming the blue truck is represented by a color based on a hypothetical graph provided in the video.] The blue line represents the blue truck because it depicts the changes in distance over time for that vehicle.

  2. On the Velocity-Time graph, the black line represents the red truck. What does a flat line that has zero slope mean on a Velocity-Time graph? Explain why.

    Type Answer HERE: A flat line with zero slope indicates that the velocity of the red truck is constant. This means that the truck is moving at the same speed without accelerating or decelerating.

  3. The Position-Time graph below represents someone going for a walk. At what position is the person not moving, and how do you know according to the graph?

    Type Answer HERE: The person is not moving at the point where the line on the graph is horizontal (flat). This indicates that their position is not changing over time.

VI. Analyzing the Data:

  1. Type Answer HERE: The speed gradually increases over time.

  2. Type Answer HERE: The ball’s speed is increasing.

  3. Type Answer HERE: The object is experiencing acceleration.

  4. Type Answer HERE: The velocity of the car changes due to the change in speed and direction.

  5. Which graph BEST represents the relationship between velocity and time for an object that accelerates uniformly for 2 seconds, then moves at a constant velocity for 1 second, and finally decelerates for 3 seconds?

Type Answer HERE: The graph would typically show a straight line with a positive slope for acceleration, a flat line for constant velocity, and a straight line with a negative slope for deceleration.

VII. Reading & Evidence Questions:

(These questions are not explicitly provided in your request, so please fill in based on your reading material.)

  1. Type Answer HERE: [Your answer based on reading]

  2. Type Answer HERE: [Your answer based on reading]

  3. Type Answer HERE: [Your answer based on reading]

Feel free to adjust the predicted distances and trial results based on your actual experiment results. Good luck with your assignment, and remember to consult your teacher if you have any questions!