In this project, our job was to build a vehicle that did not run on nuclear or chemical energy. The car was supposed to run exactly 5 meters without going over or under while carrying 250 grams, or 10 pennies. My group immediately knew what we were going to do. We drilled 4 holes in a 2 liter soda bottle, and stuck 2 axles through the holes. We cut a big hole in the top of the bottle so we had easy access to the axles on the inside of the bottle. We put CD's on the axles as wheels for the car to run on. We put bottle caps on each side of the wheels, so the wheels would stay on tight without falling off. We drilled a screw through the back axle and drilled 2 small wholes in the cap, for the chain of rubber bands to hook onto. We wound the car up, and let go to move.
Concepts
Speed-the amount of distance an object covers in a given amount of time. S=d/t
Velocity-speed in a given direction. V=change in d/change in t
Acceleration-rate of change in an object's motion. a=change in v/change in t
Potential Energy-energy of an object in a certain position. PE=mgh
Kinetic Energy-energy an object has due to motion. KE=1/2m*v^2
Thermal Energy-energy that comes from heat. Thermal Energy=Total Energy-(PE+KE)
Velocity-speed in a given direction. V=change in d/change in t
Acceleration-rate of change in an object's motion. a=change in v/change in t
Potential Energy-energy of an object in a certain position. PE=mgh
Kinetic Energy-energy an object has due to motion. KE=1/2m*v^2
Thermal Energy-energy that comes from heat. Thermal Energy=Total Energy-(PE+KE)
Reflection
There were many peaks and picks for my group in this project. For one, my group had finished early, but our car was very ugly and not easy to look at, so we took everything apart and made it shinier with sharper corners. Our CD's were also very slippery and didn't attract much traction on the dusty marble floors, so we tried to attach rubber bands on the wheels. But, the CD's were too thin and the bands would snap off. So we took the CD's off and glued a circular piece of cardboard onto each side of each wheel and reattached it. The rubber bands then fit perfectly and our car ran much further.
I also learned many new things in this project. A lot of them being around energy and calculations, but more of them being about helping my team and paying attention. I could've done much more better, though. In the beginning of the project, I rarely came up with ideas. I didn't do much to collaborate or build the car. I was goofing off and talking with my friends the whole time instead. I really started helping after we finished the car, though. I filmed the car moving 5 meters, and I also did most of the calculations. I did some graphs, and I did more than most of the PowerPoint for my group. I will continue to work on my leadership and contributing ideas, because that is what I seem to be lacking mostly.
I also learned many new things in this project. A lot of them being around energy and calculations, but more of them being about helping my team and paying attention. I could've done much more better, though. In the beginning of the project, I rarely came up with ideas. I didn't do much to collaborate or build the car. I was goofing off and talking with my friends the whole time instead. I really started helping after we finished the car, though. I filmed the car moving 5 meters, and I also did most of the calculations. I did some graphs, and I did more than most of the PowerPoint for my group. I will continue to work on my leadership and contributing ideas, because that is what I seem to be lacking mostly.