In this lab, we collected data to determine the speed of different Hot Wheels cars. Speed is how far an object goes during a specific time. The formula for speed is distance divided by time. How does the average speed of different "Hot Wheels" car compare when raced down a 2.4 meter track and a 1.2 meter track? If the track length changes then the speed will decrease. The independent variable is the track length, and the dependant variable is the speed of the Hot Wheels car.

The materials for this lab we used are:

• Hot Wheels cars

• 2 tracks, one 1.2 meters and the other 2.4 meters

• 5 books

• Chair

• The Need For Speed! packet

• A pencil

• Calculator

• Chromebook

• Phone/Stopwatch

The method for this lab is:

1. Set up the first track, 1.2 meters.

2. Get a car.

3. Place the car on one of the ramps, hold the car in place until you start the stopwatch.

4. Set up your stopwatch.

5. Begin your stopwatch as you let go of your car.

6. Stop your stopwatch when the car hits the ground.

7. If your car falls off the track, restart the trial.

8. Record the data on your Chromebook

9. Repeat the process with a different car for each member of your team

10. Then repeat the entire process on the 2.4 track

There are two categories of energy: nonrenewable and renewable. Nonrenewable energy is problematic because it cannot be replenished quickly: it takes millions of years to form. 

How can we ship goods overseas with the use of renewable energy? How can we reduce our use of nonrenewable energy?

We designed and built wind-propelled boats using various materials. Functional boat design required that the boat carry cargo from one "continent" overseas to another without sinking.

1. What aspect of the design of the fastest ship do you think lead to its success?

Joren's ship was the fastest out of all of the ships due to 2 factors in its design. The first one being that she added 5 small popsicle sticks and straws, which assisted in propelling the boat, to the bottom of the boat, giving it an equal balance. Joren also added plastic wrap as a sail for the boat, which assisted it in direction and speed. These are the 2 factors that caused Joren's boat the be the fastest.

2. If you had a chance to do this project again, what would your team have done differently?

I think that we could've changed the sail quite a bit. The current sail is alright, but it could've been bigger and made out of a different material. Another change would be the straws on the bottom of the boat. I believe that super-gluing the holds of the straws was a bit of a strange idea, and seeing that Joren's boat worked with the straws opened, I think that leaving the straws unsealed was a better idea.