For this project we were asked to build an environmentally friendly car. It was supposed to be powered by any type of potential energy but not chemical energy or nuclear energy. Our product was supposed to be sold to the Hyundai Company. The car should be self-propelled. The car should move as close to 5 meters as possible while it carries a load of 250g. We were also asked to present our project to the class the same way that we would sell it to Hyundai.

Process: For this project the assignment was explained. We had to make a blueprint for the assignment. Everyone in my group made a different blueprint with our own ideas. We chose the best idea of the three. Next we started building in the makers space. At first we tried to make the mouse trap push the car forward by snapping or going off. That method was not successful. We switched it to winding up rubber bands around the axle of the car to move the car forward. That didn't go far enough. We then decided to make the wheels bigger to gain more distance. If the wheel is bigger it should go further off each revolution. This helped the car go further.

Velocity- The rate at which an object changes position. The formula for velocity is change in distance over time. the max velocity of our car was 1.02 m/s.

Spring Potential Energy- The amount of energy a stretched spring has. The formula for spring PE is 1/2kx^2. Our vehicle had .15J of spring potential energy.

Gravitational Potential Energy- The amount of energy an object has at rest. The formula for this is PEg=mg(change in h).

Kinetic Energy- This is energy due to motion of an object. The formula for KE is KE=1/2mv^2 The max KE of our vehicle was .11J.

Thermal Energy - This is the amount of energy lost to heat or friction. .143J of energy was lost to TE.

Total Energy- The total amount of energy in a closed system. Total energy stays constant. since the spring potential energy was .15J so was the total energy the whole time.

Reflection: In this project I felt that I did a good job with the building of our vehicle. I worked with my other team members to choose materials. I also did a lot of the construction of the car using the materials. I found the most efficient way of lining up the rubber bands. I also did well with problem solving how to make our car go further. I knew that using bigger wheels would help the car go further. I plan to work on leadership and work ethic. For leadership I could try being more in charge in my group. I could be the one to assign tasks and monitor them. With work ethic I could help keep my group on task or help them work harder. We had trouble getting our car to go far enough. I could have coordinated with my group a time to work on the project at lunch or outside of school.