Hybrid Car Battery Design
Hybrid Car
The objective of this project was to design and build a car that could travel exactly 5 meters using an alternative fuel source. Then we had to make graphs and a presentation.
The first day, we came up with different designs using balloons and rubber bands. After a while, we realized that balloons wouldn't exert enough force to move the car, much less five meters. However, by the end of the day, we decided to use rubber bands.
On the second day we began to build the car using CDs as wheels. The car worked by wrapping the rubber band around the axle of the wheel and stretching it. When we let go of the rubber band, the rubber band would compress and pull the wheels. Theoretically, it would work. However we ran into some problems. The first problem was that we didn't enough traction. When the rubber band released, the wheels would spin uselessly. We solved the problem by putting tape on the edges of the wheel. The second problem was that we weren't using all of the spring energy in the rubber band. Mr. Williams gave us the idea of stretching the rubber band as far as it could go and attaching it to a string. The string would be tied to the axle. By winding up the string, it would stretch the rubber band. When we let go, the rubber band would compress and pull the string. The string would pull on the axle and make the wheels move.
Once the car could actually move, we ran into more problems. The wheels were crooked which made the car curve. It was capable of going five meters, but the car would often run into things. We solved the problem by angling it to the left.
After building and testing the car, we began to work on the presentation. I was the one responsible for bringing the laptop to make our slideshow. However, I got sick and wasn't able to bring my laptop. While I was sick, my group did the calculations and graphs. The next day, I came back to school and my group mates were delighted to see the laptop. We finished the presentation that day.
Reflections
I think that our group did extremely well. Our time management was excellent. We got everything done on time which caused less stress. There was not a lot of problems. We all got along very well and worked together smoothly. I learned that once we got the time management piece done, everything fell into place. I also learned that I am very talkative. When I got sick, my throat burned and I was unable to talk. It was very hard to communicate my ideas. For example, I wanted to make the car look like a Batmobile. I expressed my ideas onto paper by drawing it. Luckily, Patrick could figure out what I was trying to convey. I think that we could have made our slideshow better looking. We should have used less words. I think that I should work on my presenting skills more as well.
Concepts
Spring constant: It is the measure of elasticity of springs.
Spring Potential Energy (Elastic Energy): It is due to compression or expansion of elastic material
Friction: A force that resists motion (usually resisting). We needed friction from ground and wheels in order to have enough traction.
Kinetic Energy: It is energy due to movement. When the car moved across the ground, it created energy.
The objective of this project was to design and build a car that could travel exactly 5 meters using an alternative fuel source. Then we had to make graphs and a presentation.
The first day, we came up with different designs using balloons and rubber bands. After a while, we realized that balloons wouldn't exert enough force to move the car, much less five meters. However, by the end of the day, we decided to use rubber bands.
On the second day we began to build the car using CDs as wheels. The car worked by wrapping the rubber band around the axle of the wheel and stretching it. When we let go of the rubber band, the rubber band would compress and pull the wheels. Theoretically, it would work. However we ran into some problems. The first problem was that we didn't enough traction. When the rubber band released, the wheels would spin uselessly. We solved the problem by putting tape on the edges of the wheel. The second problem was that we weren't using all of the spring energy in the rubber band. Mr. Williams gave us the idea of stretching the rubber band as far as it could go and attaching it to a string. The string would be tied to the axle. By winding up the string, it would stretch the rubber band. When we let go, the rubber band would compress and pull the string. The string would pull on the axle and make the wheels move.
Once the car could actually move, we ran into more problems. The wheels were crooked which made the car curve. It was capable of going five meters, but the car would often run into things. We solved the problem by angling it to the left.
After building and testing the car, we began to work on the presentation. I was the one responsible for bringing the laptop to make our slideshow. However, I got sick and wasn't able to bring my laptop. While I was sick, my group did the calculations and graphs. The next day, I came back to school and my group mates were delighted to see the laptop. We finished the presentation that day.
Reflections
I think that our group did extremely well. Our time management was excellent. We got everything done on time which caused less stress. There was not a lot of problems. We all got along very well and worked together smoothly. I learned that once we got the time management piece done, everything fell into place. I also learned that I am very talkative. When I got sick, my throat burned and I was unable to talk. It was very hard to communicate my ideas. For example, I wanted to make the car look like a Batmobile. I expressed my ideas onto paper by drawing it. Luckily, Patrick could figure out what I was trying to convey. I think that we could have made our slideshow better looking. We should have used less words. I think that I should work on my presenting skills more as well.
Concepts
Spring constant: It is the measure of elasticity of springs.
Spring Potential Energy (Elastic Energy): It is due to compression or expansion of elastic material
Friction: A force that resists motion (usually resisting). We needed friction from ground and wheels in order to have enough traction.
Kinetic Energy: It is energy due to movement. When the car moved across the ground, it created energy.