Free PDFGrade 4 · Science · 35 min
Stuffed-toy launcher
Smack a bag of air and send a soft toy flying.
I can explain how air pushes and how a bigger force makes the toy fly further.
A science experiment video with a free worksheet and answer key for teachers
About the video
In the video a smack on a bag of air sends a soft toy flying out of a box. At home your child half fills a garbage bag with air, puts it in a box with a light soft toy on top, and measures in cm how far the toy flies after 2 soft and 2 hard smacks.
Air takes up space and can push, so squeezing one end of the closed bag makes the far end bulge up fast. A harder smack gives a bigger force and the toy flies further, while gravity pulls it back to the floor.
What your child learns
- Show that air takes up space and can push
- Measure distances in cm and compare soft and hard smacks
- Draw force arrows for push and gravity
What's on the worksheet
- 1Predict first
- 2Measure the launch
- 3What did you see?
- 4The science behind it
- 5Match the words
- 6True or false
- 7Push or pull?
- 8Launch maths
- 9Draw the launch
You need
1 open cardboard box about 40 cm long, 1 large plastic garbage bag, tape, 1 small soft toy (lighter than 200 g), 1 tape measure and a clear floor 4 m long.
Safety
Aim away from faces, lamps and windows. Never put a plastic bag over anyone's head.
Tip for the adult
Extend it by testing a heavier toy with the same hard smack, and ask your child to explain why it does not fly as far.
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