Home >> Toys >> Childrens Toys

How to Construct Rubber Band-Powered Cars

With a few household items and a bit of work, you can make a box car powered by a rubber band. Teachers or parents can use the rubber band-powered car as a lesson in potential energy. Children will enjoy making, decorating and driving their cars. Make one car as a fun craft or a fleet of cars for some racing fun.

Things You'll Need

1 small, sturdy box
Single-hole punch or razor blade
Scissors
2 slim drinking straws
2 thin wooden skewers
4 washers, 1/4-inch
4 small lids, CDs or circles cut from cardboard
Poster putty
Tape (masking or duct tape)
1 rubber band

Instructions

- 1
  Mark locations where axles will be inserted through the box and make holes for the axles. Your axle holes should be large enough that a drinking straw can be inserted through them and must be paired so that axles will run through the box near the front and back. Use the hole punch to create holes if you can do so without harming your box; otherwise, cut the holes with the razor blade.
- 2
  Cut a small hole in the bottom of the box beneath the front axle. The hole should be at least 1/2 inch long by 1 inch wide but may be up to 2 inches square if the size of your box permits.
- 3
  Cut one straw to be 1/2 inch longer than the width of the box. Insert the straw through the rear axle holes to form the axle casing. Slide one wooden skewer through the axle casing. Use the scissors to cut the sharp point off the skewer and to trim the skewer to be about 2 inches wider than the box.
- 4
  Cut two 1-inch pieces from the other straw. Insert one piece into each front axle hole. Slide the second wooden skewer through the casings. Use the scissors to cut the sharp point off the skewer and to trim the skewer to be about 2 inches wider than the box.
- 5
  Attach the wheels to the axles. If you are using CDs for wheels, insert one washer into the hole of each of the CDs. Otherwise, slide one washer onto each end of each wooden skewer, then slide one wheel on each skewer next to the washer. Use the poster putty to firmly attach the washer to the wheel and axle. Try to prevent the poster putty from coming in contact with the box or straw axle casing.
- 6
  Tape the rubber band firmly to the bottom of the box beneath or behind the rear axle. Create a catch on the front axle by wrapping a 1-inch length of tape around the front axle at the middle of the axle, above the hole you cut in step 2.
- 7
  Wrap the rubber band around the front axle, using the catch to keep it from slipping as you pull. Once the rubber band is caught, rotate the front wheels backward so that, when released, they will spin the other direction and power the car forward.

Childrens Toys