Intro
Intro
Embedded Files
The goal of the Gravity Car Challenge is to design and build a car that is powered only by the falling mass of a soda can. This project is being completed for an in-class competition, and the winners will have the chance to compete at TSA Tech Day at the Georgia National Fair. In addition to designing and building the car, we must also document the entire Engineering Design Process in our Engineering Portfolios.
Detailed Problem Statement
Detailed Problem Statement
Create a car that is only powered by the falling mass of a soda can, and that travels 15 feet in the fastest time. The car should travel forward using only the gravitational potential energy stored in the mass prior to start. The car will be timed over a distance of 15 feet on a slick floor; placement will be determined by fastest time.
Constraints:
Max. 4 people per team
Powered only by unopened 12oz soda can
No other energy sources allowed (i.e. springs)
Max. dimensions: 15" long, 12" wide, 30" tall
Must remain stationary until the car is released
Can cannot be attached in any way that significantly increases the falling weight
No stock pulleys, gears, or bearnings (must be fabricated by students)
Must have 3 or 4 wheels that touch the ground
Must stay on a 2 foot wide course
Background Research
Background Research
https://youtu.be/tsv-h9O8rZU?feature=shared - example of a gravity-powered car, explaining how to transfer energy from the falling mass to the wheels/axle
Brainstorming
Brainstorming
Start coming up with possible ideas for what to design, or create to solve the problem. You should have a minimum of 3 ideas sketched in your notebook, or in a Google Drawing. Those images should be placed here, using either a carousel, or images. There is no need to include EVERY detail, but your ideas should demonstrate that you are exploring different ways to approach the challenge.
Example:
Use a pulley with string to attach the can to one end, then wind the string up around the wheel axle on the other end. That way, when the can falls it will spin the axle and the wheels to make the car go. (include sketch)
Use the can as a pendulum to give the car an extra boost (include sketch)
Use three wheels in a tricycle layout to help the car go straight & reduce mass (include sketch)
Use four wheels to increase stability (include sketch)
Cover the wheels in electrical tape to increase friction on the slick floor
Detailed Plan and Description
Detailed Plan and Description
Once you have decided which solution you want to build or create, this section should include drawings or CAD screenshots where you have created a plan for your solution.
There should be enough information and detail in this section where someone else can completely understand your plan and build your project for you.
Example:
We decided to go with a 4-wheel design with a 12" long x 10" wide popsicle-stick base. The wheels are plastic 1.5"-diameter wheels, and the axles will be made out of bamboo skewers inside of straws. The can will be held up by a 20-inch tall tower made of chopsticks, with another plastic wheel at the top as a pulley. The can will be in a sling made of string, and the string will go over the pulley and wind up around the back axle so that it will rotate the axle as it falls.
Bill of Materials:
5 - 1.5"-diameter plastic wheels
2 - bamboo skewers
2 - plastic straws
25 - large popsicle sticks
10 - chopsticks
4 feet - string
Superglue
(Include technical drawings - front, top,& side views, including labels and dimensions + any other drawings/views you created to help explain the design)
Work Log
Work Log
Through the entire process, describe what you are accomplishing daily, what issues come up, next steps, or questions you need to ask.
As you are working through specific projects, keep the work log updated at least every 1.5 hours of work. There should be a minimum of 2-3 entries per school week.
It is important for each entry to be dated. I recommend using a simple (MM/DD/YY) at the end of each text block to show what date you did what work.
Example:
08/08/2024: Today we researched and brainstormed different ideas on how to use the gravitational potential energy from the can to transmit power to the wheels. We made three sketches for different ideas on how to attach the can to the car.
08/09/2024: Today we looked at all our brainstorming ideas and decided on a preliminary design. We created accurate drawings of our design on graph paper/google draw/TinkerCAD. (You can include a link to those drawings and/or pictures here as well to show your exact progress on this date).
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Feedback and Reflection
Feedback and Reflection
When the project is tested or presented to the intended audience, how does it work, what goes wrong, and what improvements/ adjustments can you make to the design?
Example:
Our Gravity Car was able to travel 15 feet in 15 seconds, which was faster than most of the class but not the fastest. We ran into issues with our car veering off-course, so had to adjust the wheels to help it remain straight. We ended up re-building the car three times before it was sturdy enough to complete the entire course. If we were to do this project again, we would have made a more sturdy support system for where the can was hanging, because part of the reason it wasn't going straight was that it started leaning from the weight of the can as it fell.
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