Summary
The objective of this project was to build a prototype for an energy efficient car. We had to make the car go exactly five meters with 250 grams. We were not allowed to use gas powered, motor, and electricity. Thats why we use an alternate power source, we used a rubber band. By spinning our back axel twisting the rubber band, it created potential engery. Once released our car goes zooming bye. After we created our car, we had to create a website that would promote people to chose our car.
Reflection
In the beginging of our project, we started off pretty strong with making prototypes and blue prints. After we realized that our first idea was not going to work we moved on to plan B. I came up with both of our ideas which were to have our car be powered by a fan,(which didnt go so well) and one powered by a rubber band. For our project, I thought we did a retty good job with our finished project, however our process getting there could have been way better. If i got the chance to do this project all over again, I would have wanted to manage our time more efficenttly and not mess around work, mess around. Another thing that i would have wanted to do differently is to try to work with my team better and not argue so much about things and let others lead the group. The weight of our car and distance went very well, the materials we used however made it look not its best. The materials we used were mainly plastic, glu, and tape. This made our car very fast and light which went well.
I was very happy with my groups end result with this project.
Concepts
Acceleration: The rate with an object speeds up. This occured when we released our car and it zoomed bye and almost hit the 5 meter mark. When we released the car, the rubber band spun like crazy.
Thermal Energy: Thermal Energy Is part of the total kinetic and potential energy. It is created by friction. The frition was mainly put on our wheels so we added rubberbands to make our car go further.
Friction: Friction is the resistance between to objects moving over each other. There was not to much friction in our vehicle and that is why it went so far.
Spring Potential Energy: The amout of energy being stored in a spring after being compressed or expaned. This was used in our vehicle when the rubber band was spum on the back axel and release forcing the back wheels to spin because of all the energy stored making the car go.
Velocity: The rate covered in a certain direction. This was used when our car left at the 1 meter mark amd was a little short of the 5 meter mark. However in other attempts, ours went way past it and before it, it had stopped.