How do I make my balloon powered car faster?

Question

Okay.. it's a school assignment, and I got to make it a car not I can't use sled like straws on the bottom because then it will turn into a sled, and I already have a straw attached to the ballon which will come out like an exhaust pipe, and it's as light as possible[not too light], has a spoiler too.

Is there another possible way to make it faster [I want your own words]..... thanks

Answer 1

Carbon Dioxide releases more pressure than oxygen i think? I saw it on a science show once.

Answer 2

Try to reduce friction as much as possible... if its possible. Can you get a bigger balloon? Filling it with Co2 will give you a good boost. Or, you could sneak a motor... just kidding. You could though... but you don't want to cheat. Can you add more than one balloon? If so, then do so. Point the end of the straw towards the floor... not a right angle, but about 45 degrees. This way you have more thrust.

Answer 3

Your wheels should be light, hard, large diameter, and thin.

The wheel diameter will be limited by the geometric increase in weight and inertia as the diameter grows, so you're probably looking at something between 1" and 2" (2 - 5 cm).

The minimum width of the wheel is limited by the stiffness of the material used for the wheel. If it's too thin, the wheel will be floppy. You're probably looking at a minimum somewhere in the neighborhood of 1/8 inch (3 mm).

Minimize friction between the wheel and axle by making the hub no wider than absolutely necessary to keep the wheel stable and lubricate it well (use graphite, not oil). Minimize friction between the wheels and car body by using a small diameter hub on the wheel so that where the wheel hub touches the car body there is only a small contact area.

Oh, make sure that your wheels are aligned also. If the wheels are not in line then you will waste a lot of energy with them fighting each other

I like the idea that others have suggested about using CO2. The specific gravity of CO2, relative to air, is about 1.5 so a balloon filled with CO2 will eject 50% more mass than one filled with air.

Answer 4

make sure that you put graphite powder on all of the wheels so they will spin with the least amount of friction possible and also make sure that the weight distribution is as close to 50/50 as you can get it. I would also lose the spoiler, at the speeds the car will be traveling the spoiler Will be useless