Toy cars are a great tool for learning about forces such as friction, momentum, inertia, and the effect of changing gradients of ramps. You’ll need a few extra items for some activities, but hopefully, you already have most of them around the house.
Our DIY friction ramp uses a large sheet of thick cardboard split into several lanes. Each lane is covered with a different material. This activity is a great way to demonstrate how some surfaces have more friction between themselves and another object than others.
This fun balloon-powered car is made from LEGO. A balloon-powered car is a great way to learn about kinetic energy, potential energy, conservation of energy, and Newton’s Laws of Motion.
All moving objects have momentum. Another way to think about momentum is how hard it is to stop a moving object. It’s harder to stop an object moving quickly than an object moving slowly. Use a toy car to demonstrate and learn all about momentum.
Use a ramp to investigate how the distance traveled by a toy car is affected by the slope gradient and the ramp’s surface.
Make simple magnet-powered cars to learn about magnetism. Race them, steer them, and even design your own race track!
Embrace the messy side of science with a sensory science station. Make fizzy potions, oobleck slime, and lots more. Frugal Fun also has some great ideas for science experiments with toy cars. Try some magic opening flowers made using just paper and a tray of water or one of my other preschool science experiments!