The Project
The assignment for this project was to build a car or means of transportation that could carry a weight exactly five meters. The car was not to use fuel or electric energy. So the question was: how were we going to get our car to move and carry the weight without using fuel or electric energy? My group and I decided to research other potential energy sources. After thorough research we found the most efficient and sensible energy source was Elastic Energy.
What is Elastic Energy?
Elastic Energy is potential energy that is stored inside of a spring or rubber band. The three rubber bands are attached on one side to a nail and on the other to a string that is tied around the axel of the cars back wheel. Once you spin the back tire backward and build up enough tension on the rubber band, you can release, making the car move forward. When this process happens, deformation occurs. For example, when a spring is pulled it stretches and deforms. According to Hooke's Law: the force that is required to stretch the spring will be accurately proportional to the amount that it is stretched.
The Physics
Power: It is how fast the work is being done. Power is measured in watts (w). The way to calculate this is with P=w/t (Power=work/time).
Kinetic Energy: It is Energy due to movement. Kinetic energy is measured in Joules. The way to calculate this is with KE=.5 x mass x velocity squared.
Spring constant: This is what measures and shows you the elasticity of the object.This can be measured in Newtons. It can be found by using K=f/x (spring constant = force applied/ distance stretched.
Thermal Energy: This is the energy that is made by heat from friction.
Kinetic Energy: It is Energy due to movement. Kinetic energy is measured in Joules. The way to calculate this is with KE=.5 x mass x velocity squared.
Spring constant: This is what measures and shows you the elasticity of the object.This can be measured in Newtons. It can be found by using K=f/x (spring constant = force applied/ distance stretched.
Thermal Energy: This is the energy that is made by heat from friction.
Reflection
This project was very interesting and I enjoyed working with my group, Spencer, Shasta and Anthony, very much. We came up with several ideas and tried and failed with a few before we settled on a car that used elastic energy through rubber bands. When I reflect on our time together and what we could have strengthened to better succeed, I would absolutely say, time management. I believe that if we had better planned our time our presentation would have gone more smoothly. That said, I believe that our overall project, including our presentation was a success.