Tiger Science Challenge

What You'll Need

Your balloon car may be built using the following materials:

• Cardboard (platform) – 1 piece
• Plastic straw – 1 piece
• Balloon – 1 piece
• Bottle caps (wheels) – 4 pieces
• Wooden skewers (axles) – 2 pieces
• Tape or hot glue
• Paper clip – 1 piece (to close the end of the straw and prevent air from escaping until you are ready to release the car)

You may also use:

• Scissors for cutting materials
• A tool to safely punch or drill holes in the bottle caps

Important: Scissors and hole-punching/drilling tools are for construction only and should not be attached to the finished balloon car. Students should ask an adult for assistance when using tools that could cause injury.

Challenge Rules

1. Build your own car. Each participant must design and build their own balloon car. This is an individual challenge; teams are not permitted.
2. Use only the approved materials. Your finished balloon car must be made from the materials listed above.
3. Balloon power only. The car must be powered only by air released from a balloon. Motors, batteries, rubber bands, pushing, pulling, or other sources of power are not permitted.
4. The car must move on its own. Once released, participants may not touch, push, pull, or guide the car.
5. Use a flat surface. Test your balloon car on a flat, level surface so gravity does not give the car an advantage.
6. Measure the distance in feet. Measure from the car's starting point to where the car comes to a complete stop. Record the total distance traveled in feet.
7. Record your official run. Participants must submit one continuous, unedited video of their official distance attempt. The video should clearly show:
   • The balloon car at the starting point.
   • The car being released and traveling on its own.
   • The car coming to a complete stop.
   • The measurement from the starting point to where the car stopped.
   • The final distance traveled in feet.
8. No editing of the official run. The official distance video should not be cut, edited, sped up, or combined from multiple attempts.
9. One entry per student. Each student may submit only one balloon car for the competition.
10. Your car will compete in both categories. All balloon cars will first be evaluated for Distance based on the total number of feet traveled. Cars that do not receive a Distance award will then be considered for Creative Design.
11. One award per student. Each student may receive an award in only one category. Students who win a Distance award will not be eligible to receive a Creative Design award.
12. Submit by the deadline. All required photos, video, distance measurement, and entry information must be submitted by the competition deadline.

Judging Criteria

After the Distance winners have been selected, the remaining eligible entries will be evaluated by the judges for Creative Design.

Judges will consider:

• Creativity
• Originality
• Craftsmanship
• Overall design

Remember: Each student can win only one award.

Submission Requirements

Participants will need to submit:

• Photos of the completed balloon car so judges can evaluate the Creative Design category.
• One continuous, unedited video showing the official distance attempt and measurement.
• The total distance traveled: ________ feet

 Make sure the balloon car and measurement are clearly visible in the video so the judges can verify the results.

How To Submit

• Put all of your submission materials into a Google folder.
• Email the folder to tscinfo@rit.edu and include ‘Fall 2026 Balloon Car Challenge’ in the subject line.
  • Make sure the folder permissions are set to anyone with the link can view
• Include your full name and grade level in the email.

What will it take to win this year’s Balloon Car Challenge? We are offering two distinct award categories: Distance and Creative Design. While your entry is automatically eligible for both, entrants are limited to winning a prize in one category.

The top three entries in both categories will take home these epic prizes:

1^st Place: Program fee waiver for the 2027 TechTigers Program and a $500 cash prize

2^nd Place: $350

3^rd Place: $150

Tiger Science Challenge Participation Requirements

To be eligible to enter, you must be in 6^th, 7^th, or 8^th grade as of fall 2026. The Tiger Science Challenge is open only to deaf and hard-of-hearing students. This is a solo challenge – working in teams is not permitted.

Registration

Register for the Balloon Car Challenge today!

If you are a teacher registering a group of students, email the Tiger Science Challenge team at TSCinfo@rit.edu to receive a group registration link.

Key Dates

• Registration Opens: September 14
• Submission Deadline: November 20
• Winners will be announced after judges evaluate all projects.