How to build a (CD) hovercraft

By: Sadie Raddatz

Here’s a fun experiment to do at home is making a hovercraft with and old CD. It’s simple, cheap, and fun for children. Plus, who doesn't like watching things hover?

Materials needed:

An old CD or DVD disc
A 9” balloon
A pop-top cap from a water or sports bottle
A hot glue gun

A push pin or small nail

1. If you are using the cap from a water bottle, cover the center hole of the CD with a piece of tape and poke about six holes in the tape with a push-pin or small nail. By doing this you will slow down the flow of air, allowing the hovercraft to hover longer.

2. Use the hot glue gun to glue the cap to the center of the CD or DVD disc.

3. Create a good seal to keep air from escaping. You don't want a lot, if any, air to escape. Blow up the balloon all the way and pinch the neck of it. (Don’t tie it.)

4. Make sure the pop-top is closed and fit the neck of the balloon over the pop-up portion of the cap (this is usually easier with two people).

5. When you're ready to commence hovering, simply put the craft on a smooth surface and pop the top open.

The airflow created by the balloon causes a pillow of moving air between the disc and the surface, lifting the CD or DVD and reducing the friction, which allows the disc to hover freely. A larger scale hovercraft would be capable of traveling over land, snow and water.