Challenge
In this project, we were given the challenge to make a car that runs off of something other than gasoline or nuclear power. Our car’s goal was to carry 250g and go exactly 5 meters. On top of that, we had to make selling points and make graphs that showed our car’s acceleration, potential energy, kinetic energy and so on. Since our presentation was supposed to be for the Hyundai company, we had to make it as professional as we could. Another challenge that awaited us was to make sure it was low costing and easy to assemble.
Process
We started this project by making our 1st prototype. It was big and bulky but we stuck with that prototype until we realized that wasn't going to work. So we stripped down our car and completely remade the whole design. It became much lighter and we could actually spin the wheels. We fixed the problem with our rubber band by putting a nub so it would stay on. We also realized that our car couldn't run solely on solar power so we made it so it run off half solar and half battery. Our way of stopping our car was tying a 5 meter long string attached to a 2000 gram weight which stopped it at exactly 5m. We also flipped it around so it could run with pennies. (Weight distributed equally)
Physics Concepts
Physics Concepts:
For this project, we had to understand the concepts of potential energy, kinetic energy, acceleration, and thermal energy.
Potential Energy is the stored energy or just the potential energy the object has to move.
Kinetic Energy is the energy in motion it gets the energy it has from potential energy.
Acceleration is speed given in a certain direction
Thermal Energy is byproducts of both potential and kinetic energy
For this project, we had to understand the concepts of potential energy, kinetic energy, acceleration, and thermal energy.
Potential Energy is the stored energy or just the potential energy the object has to move.
Kinetic Energy is the energy in motion it gets the energy it has from potential energy.
Acceleration is speed given in a certain direction
Thermal Energy is byproducts of both potential and kinetic energy
Our Car Prototype 1 NA Prototype 2 Prototype 3
car.gslides | |
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File Type: | gslides |
Reflection
This has been a challenging and fun project. This project forced us to think outside the box to find solutions to making our vehicle move. Our group for this project was really weird at first because no one was really talking to each other and making an attempt to make a difference. Then the next day, we got to work. We started working and before that day was done, we were all conversing and communicating a lot more. I think some things my group did really well were dealing with different problems that arose. For example when our car stopped working when we put the pennies on it, I took it and started rearranging some stuff on our car so that it would move. The only thing that happened when I rearranged it was that when I was redoing the circuitry, the wires were put in the wrong place so it made the car go backwards instead of forwards like our original plan. So then, all we had did was flip our car around and BAM; it goes forward instead of backwards. Another problem happened when our presentation was interrupted when one of our wires broke. I had to take it off to the side and fix it. Even though our group was embarrassed that our car broke down we, decided the show still had to go on. One problem my group had was our ability to stay organized. When we presenting, our strings were tangled and I think our group could’ve avoided that fiasco by untangling them before our 2nd attempt.