Mission · with Rotor
Rotor's Balloon Hovercraft
Build a hovercraft from an old CD and a balloon that glides on a cushion of air.
You need
- An old CD or DVD
- A pop-up bottle cap (sports bottle top)
- A balloon
- Strong glue or putty (with a grown-up)
Steps
Seal the cap
Glue the pop-up cap over the CD's center hole so no air leaks around the edge. Let it dry.
Load the air
Blow up the balloon, pinch the neck and stretch it over the closed cap.
Launch
Set it on a smooth table and pop the cap open. Give it a tiny push.
Experiment
Time the glide. Try a bigger breath, a smaller one, a different surface.
Build task
Finish line
Your hovercraft glides at least 1 meter (about 3 feet) from one gentle push.
Finish line: A 1-meter glide on a smooth surface.