Air-Powered Toy Car with Balloons as Propulsion Motor

Environmental health becomes important from year to year. Moreover, the quality of life is very dependent on the cleanliness of the ecosystem. However, plastic waste that accumulates from year to year is slowly becoming a problem that must be resolved with the collaboration of various parties. Plastic waste may seem simple, but in fact, the spread of unorganized plastic waste from year to year can damage many habitats, through the sea, land, and as air pollutants. Recycling plastic waste into items that can be reused is one of the efforts that can be used to overcome the existing waste problem. One example is making a toy car from a plastic bottle, which is powered by air. Air will be collected in the balloon as propellant for the toy car.

With this balloon-powered toy car, students will be more curious and have fun in learning and using this media. Because this is an experiment about air and the form of compressed air as a propellant, this balloon-powered car is a fun science project to work on with the kids. This activity also teaches participants about recycling and how to turn used goods into fun toys. Toy cars can be made using tools and materials that are easily found nearby. The balloon itself is the motor that drives the speed of the car. When the balloon is filled and released, the air will be forced out, the balloon will shrink back to its original shape, and the air coming out of the balloon will propel the car forwards.

By applying this experimental method to car game activities, it is our effort to present learning for students through experimentation. Experimenting and proving for themselves something that is being learned, as well as teaching students how energy or air can be used to propel objects. Promoting student abilities to solve problems they may face through the use of scientific methods, so that students can learn skills for solving various challenges they may face.

Students gain scientific knowledge through practice. The aim is that all information obtained is based on scientific principles. The information presented is the result of findings and formulations that are objective and in accordance with the rules of physics, which are absolute.

With the toy car game learning for students is more fun because the balloon media students really like and are very closely related to students’ favourite toys and students believe more in the truth or conclusions based on their experiments. In this case, students are able to skilfully use fine motor skills and senses in various ways (blowing balloons and constructing air-powered toy cars). Students are also able to recognize the concept of scale, distance, and measurement using non-standard measuring instruments. Through this activity, students can carry out more complex activities according to the principles conveyed in the air-powered toy car activity).

Tools and materials utilized in this activity are easy to find in the local environment and school, such as solder, glue, plastic straws, plastic bottles, plastic bottle caps, balloons, skewers, markers, and string.

Utilization of used materials is a very efficient method for making this toy car, such as financial cost and space. This activity is more sustainable because it relies on used materials, such as plastic bottles. With this toy car game, teachers can apply innovative learning for students to make new breakthroughs by discovering the results of their experiments, while benefiting the natural world through the recycling of materials. This activity is a good lesson about recycling and how to turn used goods into educational activities in an affordable and sustainable way.