Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library: Bring Winter Inside With These Snowball Shooters

Press release from the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library:

February 18, 2022

Winter is the perfect time for a snowball fight, but some days it is just too cold to be outside. These indoor “snowball” shooters can be made with household items and will provide all the fun of a traditional snowball fight while letting you stay warm. Make one for every member of the family and let the snowballs fly! Be sure to talk together about the science behind why this experiment works and don’t be afraid to explore.

Materials needed

• Toilet paper tube
• Balloon
• Pompoms, small cotton balls, styrofoam balls, wadded paper towels, etc. (to be used for snowballs)
• Scissors
• Markers and other decorating materials

Instructions

Note: If your balloon slips off your shooter, you may be pulling too hard. Try taping or gluing the balloon on the tube to secure it.

Questions to ask

• What happens if you pull the balloon while still holding the tube upside down? Will the snowball fly straight up?
• Which type of snowball goes the furthest distance? Why do you think this is?
• What else can you use as a snowball with your shooter? Try small objects from around the house to find out! Which object goes the furthest?

How it works

A lot of physics concepts apply to your snowball shooter. Physics is a branch of science that helps us understand matter, energy, and motion. Way back in 1687, Sir Issac Newton published his famous three laws of motion.

Your snowball shooter demonstrates all three laws of motion. What else can you apply them to?

This press release was produced by the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.