A Step into Science Class: The Balloon Rocket Experiment

When stepping into a science class, you should always expect the unexpected—and this week was no exception for students in ECC’s Foundation Science class.

Delivered on ECU’s Joondalup Campus in Science Building 19, the class challenged students to investigate the physical phenomena behind a makeshift balloon rocket experiment. Although students begin their studies through Edith Cowan College, learning in ECU’s university facilities means they are truly immersed in the university environment from day one.

The experiment was simple yet clever: a bright green balloon was taped to a drinking straw, with a length of fishing line threaded through the straw to guide its motion. Secured between two stable surfaces, the fishing line created a straight “track” for the rocket to travel along. Once inflated using a pump and released, the balloon raced along the line—and the investigation began.

Students tested how much air was needed to achieve the ideal distance, strategising together and adjusting variables to refine their results. The activity encouraged collaboration, critical thinking, and problem‑solving, with students actively applying scientific concepts in a hands‑on setting.

Engaging, interactive, and hands‑on—you could say this science class was truly a blast!

Written by: Nikita