Fast Car Projet
Information
The goal of the fast car forces project was to apply as many forces as possible onto our vehicle to maximize acceleration. Then, calculate how much force is applied to the car by each force and how it influences the car's movement. Our car had humble beginnings, starting as a notebook, it was very inefficient with high friction and only one accelerating force applied to it. To demonstrate all forces applied to the notebook, we created free-body and motion diagrams. These diagrams clearly and quickly illustrate each force acting on an object. Next, we set out to prove Newton's 2nd Law, force is equal to mass times acceleration. We ultimately discovered that mass and acceleration are inversely proportional. This experimental result aligned with the relationship demonstrated by the equation.
The next step was to build an improved version of our vehicle. By adding wheels to a lightweight wood block, we were able to significantly reduce the friction exerted against our car. This proved to greatly increase the acceleration of our vehicle. Our first goal with our new vehicle was to determine the coefficients of friction of our new vehicle in comparison to the notebook. The notebook, of course, had a significantly higher coefficient as expected. Then, to further increase acceleration, we added a weight to a pulley and a rubber band that pulled the car down the ramp. In the end, with all the forces applied, we had an acceleration of 19.1m/s^2.
Content
Velocity
Velocity is the speed at which an object is traveling in a particular direction. The unit used for velocity is meters per second. We attempted to make our car reach the highest velocity possible.
Acceleration
Acceleration is how fast an object changes in speed. You can calculate it by dividing the change of velocity by the change of time. It's unit is meters over seconds squared. Every force we added to the car increased its acceleration and as result its velocity.
Free fall
Free fall is when an object is pulled down towards Earth due to gravity. Our pulley was in free fall which caused the car to accelerate.
Force
Force is something that influences an object. You can calculate force by multiplying mass and acceleration. The unit force uses is newtons. We had many forces involved in our fast car forces project. Sources of force included friction, the rubber band, the pulley system, and gravity.
Friction
A force that opposes the direction of motion. At an atomic level, there are rough ridges on a surface that objects get caught on. When an object gets caught on the surface, a force pushes it back. Our car wheels had friction with the ramp, slowing it down.
Air Resistance
A force that opposes the direction of motion between air and an object. The air pushes back against the object creating an opposite force. Our car recieved minimal air resistance.
Newton's First Law
An object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion at a constant speed and direction unless an outside force acts on it. Our car remains at rest until we add forces to it.
Newton's Second Law
F=ma, force is equal to mass times acceleration. By getting the total force emitted on the car and its mass, we can get the car's acceleration.
Newton's Third Law
All objects exert an equal and opposite force on each other. This is also known as the law of action and reaction. When the rubber band exerts force on the car, the car exerts force back on the rubber band.
Circular Motion
Circular motion is when an object moves around the circumference of a circle in a circular path. Circular motion was not involved in this project but it was an important part in other physics projects.
Gravity and Orbits
The theory that objects with mass attract each other. A great model to demonstrate gravity is the mattress model. Imagine a very heavy ball sitting on a mattress. Due to the weight, the mattress will depress. Now, if you place another lightweight ball on the same mattress, the curve in the mattress caused by the heavy ball will cause the lightweight ball to roll into the heavy ball. This is how orbits work. The tangential velocity matches the gravitational velocity causing the object to forever "fall" towards the heavy object but never get closer.
Energy
Energy is the ability to exert a force on an object that causes it to move. We learned about various types of energy: gravitational potential energy, spring potential energy, kinetic energy, thermal energy, chemical energy, and nuclear energy. As our vehicle starts moving, it converts its potential energy into kinetic and thermal energy.
Reflection
The project was only a small part of the semester and a small part of what I had learned in the class. Overall, this semester, I feel that I had strong critical thinking and character. Physics itself requires a lot of critical thinking skills. I had to pull from a lot of information and recognize patterns from them. Specifically, the practice problems for each chapter required a lot of critical thinking. I was constantly referencing the material to try to synthesize a solution to each problem. Throughout the entire semester, I made sure to take appropriate action to complete each project my group worked on. Thus displaying strong values and the ability to take appropriate action. This included in the fast car project. I made sure to complete my portion of the slides, my portion of the equations, and my portion of constructing.
Despite having good critical thinking and character, I could work on my collaboration and conscientious learning. Conscientious learning wise, I would like to not let myself get distracted. I was not making the best use of my time to complete my work. There was one specific project where I got distracted for multiple days talking with my group and did not get much work done in class. As a result, I had to do it at home and it cost me sleep. Collaboration wise, I would like to take a more active role in my group. I did not take an active enough leadership role in recent projects. It was clear I needed to step up to get everyone working together. However, I did not do so and it cost our group many hours of potential work time.