Hovercraft Science Experiment
My kiddos are always asking for hands-on science activities, even if it’s one we have done over and over like this Hovercraft Science experiment project. It almost seems like magic not science, and even though I have given them the scientific explanation they are still in awe of it!
>>Get more simple homeschool science experiments!
Who knew you could have so much fun with..a balloon, an old cd, and a cap from your dishwashing soap bottle? This just proves that this is a great way to use what you have around the home to create some really cool science experiments! Why run to the store when you can create your own science at home?
If you like easy to prep activities and your kids love them to be really hands-on you are going to want to do this one momma! Learning about energy, motion, force? You gotta give this a try…Not only will the kids love it, but you will, too!
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Recommended Science Experiment Books
Love exploring with fun science experiments? Try any of these cool experiment books with amazing projects that you can do with household items. I love simple science projects that don’t take a ton of work to prep.
The Curious Kid’s Science Book: 100+ Creative Hands-On Activities for Ages 4-8
Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids: 50+ Exciting STEAM Projects to Design and Build (Awesome STEAM Activities for Kids)This Is Rocket Science: An Activity Guide: 70 Fun and Easy Experiments for Kids to Learn More About Our Solar SystemI Can Be a Science Detective: Fun STEM Activities for Kids (Dover Children’s Science Books)Kitchen Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family Friendly Experiments from Around the House (Lab for Kids (4))The Kitchen Pantry Scientist: Chemistry for Kids: Homemade Science Experiments and Activities Inspired by Awesome Chemists, Past and Present
Hovercraft Science Experiment
If you’re using this for homeschooling, this is the perfect STEM experiment that will get the kids geared up and ready for learning fun. It’s also just a super simple weekend activity as well.
This CD hovercraft is sure to be a big hit in your home.
Recommended Hovercraft Supplies
Isn’t that wonderful? Only 4 supplies are needed for this hovercraft science project.
Bag of Balloons – 72 ct. Assorted Color Latex BalloonsVerbatim CD-R 700MB 52X DataLifePlus White Inkjet Printable – 50pk Spindleccbetter Upgraded Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun with 30pcs Glue Sticks,Removable Anti-hot Cover Glue Gun Kit with Flexible Trigger for DIY Small Craft Projects & Sealing and Quick Daily Repairs 20-watt,Blue
Hovercraft Directions
Before you get started, be certain to ask the kids what they think is going to happen during the experiment. Call it a hypothesis and talk about the expectations versus the outcome. See if they can accurately guess what is going to happen once the experiment gets started.
Run a generous ring of hot glue around the bottom edge of your dish soap cap, quickly press it onto the center of the CD, over the hole.
Watch your fingers so they don’t get burnt from the hot glue.
Let the glue cool until it has hardened.
Slip the balloon over the cap. Your hovercraft is now ready to amaze the kids!
With the balloon over it pull the cap upward.
Then blow up the balloon through the hole on the other side of the CD.
Press the cap down until you’re ready to let the hovercraft go.
When you are ready to pull the cap up with the balloon still over it on a smooth flat surface, now watch it glide across the floor!
DIY Hovercraft Science Experiment Supplies
- A balloon
- An old CD
- Dish soap bottle cap
- Hot glue gun/stick
Alternatively, if you did not have a glue gun, you could try sealing the pop top lid to the CD with duct tape.
This balloon hovercraft works because the force of the air expelling from the balloon creates an air cushion between the bottom of the cd and the surface it is on, allowing it to glide just barely resting above it.
Have your child slide a regular CD and the hovercraft CD to compare, it doesn’t travel as far.
The air cushion allows the CD to travel faster because it doesn’t have as much friction between the CD and the table.
The kids will do this one over and over, and be tickled every time so be sure to keep these 3 items in your science kit for learning and just plain old fun!
What a simple science experiment right?
Want to extend this activity? Try to make some changes to it and see what effects it will have on the hovercraft.
What happens when you use a different type of balloon?
What if you don’t use as much air to blow it up, what if you use more?
Try it on a flat surface and then try it on different surfaces, does that change anything?
This is such a fun STEM activity, I hope you try the Hovercraft Science Experiment!
More Science Experiments
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Oh, my word the Hoover Craft Experience will be a huge fit with my almost 7 yr old grandson!! Thank you for shaing!
Yeah! I hope he enjoys it.
that is so cool!
I would love to do this at a next STEAM Club meeting at my school. Have you tried different dish soap caps? If so, do you find that the flip top cap works better than a push/pull cap? Thanks so much!
The flip top seals really well which is why it works well but I have not tried any other caps.