Hybrid Car
Introduction
In this project, we had to build a car that would travel five meters without using chemical or nuclear energy. My team (like most other teams) built a spring powered car.
Graph of PE, KE, and TE
Here is a graph of what happened to potential, kinetic, and thermal energy while the car was driving.
Content
Topic |
Description |
Unit |
How to Measure or Calculate |
Energy |
Capacity to do work
|
J
|
Gravitational PE |
Energy due to being in a gravitational field
|
J
|
PEg = mgh
|
Kinetic Energy |
Energy due to movement
|
J
|
KE = m(v^2)/2
|
Spring Constant |
A measure of elasticity
|
N/m = kg/(s^2)
|
k = -F/x
|
Spring PE |
Energy due to expansion or compression of an elastic material
|
J
|
PEs = k(x^2)/2
|
Friction |
A force that resists motion
|
N
|
F = μN
(coefficient of friction times normal force) |
Pressure |
Force per unit area
|
kg/m(s^2) = N/(m^2) = Pascal
|
P = F/A
|
Entropy |
disorder
|
J/Kelvin
|
Power |
rate of doing work
|
Watt = J/s = kg(m^2)/(s^3)
|
P = W/t
|
Reflection
During this project, there were several low points, but also a few high points. We spent way too much time trying to get a waterwheel to work. It never did. The waterwheel was just too heavy. Fortunately, the car we ended up using was quick to build. In fact, I went home on a Friday without hearing anything about the idea of the new car, I missed school on Monday, and when I came back on Tuesday, the car was done. Unfortunately, we had spent so much time on the waterwheel idea that there wasn't enough time to make a presentation. I ended up having to use a spreadsheet to present, and we had no time to rehearse. After the presentations, we had a race between all the cars, and ours won.
There are several things that I could have done better. First, I should have tested things better. When I tested the waterwheel under the faucet, the extra force of the water coming out of the faucet messed up the test and gave us false hope in the idea, causing us to waste a lot of time. I should also try to get more sleep so I can be more awake and help my group more.
I learned several things about myself. For example, I have good ideas, but they don't always work. (I came up with the waterwheel idea) Also, I need to be more careful while making my tests.
There are several things that I could have done better. First, I should have tested things better. When I tested the waterwheel under the faucet, the extra force of the water coming out of the faucet messed up the test and gave us false hope in the idea, causing us to waste a lot of time. I should also try to get more sleep so I can be more awake and help my group more.
I learned several things about myself. For example, I have good ideas, but they don't always work. (I came up with the waterwheel idea) Also, I need to be more careful while making my tests.