Balloon Helicopter

 

How it works: Blow up the balloon. Attach the balloon to the escaping air nozzle as shown above. Next, attach the nozzle to the rotor blades of the helicopter. Finally, let go of the toy and watch it fly up into the air.

Physical Principle: This tow demonstrates the principle of lift or the force that pushes an object up against the natural force of gravity. The blades generate lift because the air goes faster over the top creating a region of low pressure, and thus lift. Since the blades are angled, the child can view this principle by watching the helicopter rise as the blades spin. The child can change how high the helicopter will go by how much he or she blows up the balloon. This engages many senses of the child and allows for cooperative play with groups of children by making up games.

Age Group: Any kid who can blow up a balloon can use this toy. I would probably recommend it for children 6 and older due to the danger of the spinning rotor for younger children.

Construction cost are very minimal. The helicopter must be made of a very light material, such as plastic or paper, so it will not weigh the balloon down. Due to the material, the spinning rotor blades do not cause a big safety hazard, however this causes the toy to be less durable.