Requirement #4: Building

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This is a cardboard car, powered by a human on a bicycle. Not all projects are energy efficient or even useful: they can be fun too! (image from kimimaeda.com)

\(\boxed{\mathbb{REQ}\Large \rightsquigarrow}\) Design and build a working model vehicle (not from a kit).

  1. Make drawings and specifications of your model vehicle before you begin to build.

  2. Include one of the following energy sources to power your vehicle (do not use gasoline or other combustible fuel source): solar power, wind power, or battery power.

  3. Test your model. Then answer the following questions:

    1. How well did it perform?

    2. Did it move as well as you thought it would?

    3. Did you encounter problems? How can these problems be corrected?

  4. Discuss with your counselor:

    1. Any difficulties you encountered in designing and building your model

    2. Why you chose a particular energy source

    3. Whether your model met your specifications

    4. How you would modify your design to make it better

Tip

Building your vehicle

There are plenty of sources of information on the internet to meet the requirements for this activity. Please choose a project that is doable but sufficiently challenging. And remember: having fun is important.

For example, the balloon car is a very nice entry-level project (you can find information on the Youtube video below:

Additional Challenge

More advanced vehicles include the mousetrap cars. There is also a lot of information on those on the web. However, if you attempt this: watch out for your fingers!!!

Attention

Once you have completed this requirement, make sure you document it in your worksheet!