This experiment was to create a hybrid car that traveled five meters using an alternative energy source other than fuels or electricity. My group chose elastic potential energy or spring potential energy. We chose this form of energy because we couldn't think of any other solution that could be completed within the time span that we had to complete the project.
This was one of the more difficult projects to do because we had so many different prototypes. We tried one idea where two copper pipes passed, horizontally, through a paper towel roll. CDs were hot glued to the copper pipes and rubber bands were tied to the pipe in anterior. You would stretch the rubber band to the posterior and then roll it around the other pipe. When you release it the wheels would turn, making the car roll forwards. The issue with that was we didn't have the proper rubber bands and the wheels would spin too fast. We tried putting tape on the wheels so it would stick to the ground, which worked, but it only traveled three meters.
Our second idea was to attach a wooden stick and a weight tied to a string that is rapped around the posterior pipe would fall and unravel the sting which rolls the car forward. That idea didn't work because there was too much friction and the weight was either too heavy or not heavy enough and it would just tumble over.
Finally, our last idea was successful. We hot glued the same stick from the last idea in front of the car and screwed a spring to it. A string was tied to the end of the spring and rapped around the posterior. When it was released it would just keep rolling to the end line.
Our project didn't end up making it all the way to five meters in the presentation because we believe the spring was losing its elasticity.
During this project we did come to a couple bumps in the road. I didn't work well with some of the people in my group. We would argue so much that it came to swearing and hissing. I learned from this experience that I become a bad teammate when my ideas are challenged. For much of the project I tried to take control and when someone else told me I had a bad idea, I flipped. For the next project I will be more patient with my partners and listen to their ideas. Some good things did happen. I created a presentation that I worked really hard on. I have learned that I need to make my presentation earlier so that my team has time to practice it. I learned creative ways to make a toy car. Two pits of the project were the arguing between teammates and my computer crashing while I was creating the presentation. Two peaks of the project were how well my presentation worked out with my little promotion videos for our car and the paint job of the car. An other peak of our project was the research that was done. That really made the presentation much easier.
Do it Better
For our "Do it Better" project we had to collaborate with our group members and recreate one of our past projects and make it better. We have to achieve this by using our knowledge of what went wrong and what worked on our past projects.
My group decided to recreate the Hybrid Car. We used the same idea of using rubber bands as our energy source as we did in our last hybrid car design. The difference is, this time we used rubber around our wheels to create friction and keep the wheels from spinning off the ground and moving in a direction instead.
It is always so much fun working with this group. They have taught me so much but I have also taught myself some things. I learned how to use a power drill the proper way and I learned how to have fun and be productive at the same time. As a team something that went well was the focus and our ability to have a good time. We knew what had to be done so we did it and afterwards we partied. Some of the things that weren't that good was sharing of responsibility. Citlalli and Lindsey were very focused and Camille and I goofed off. That was partially because I had cracked the wood already and there really wasn't anything besides the movie to make. Two pits were the time responsibility and the production of the project. Two peeks were the end product and the cool commercial that goes with it. This is the last project of the year and I'm glad I could spend it with this group.
My group decided to recreate the Hybrid Car. We used the same idea of using rubber bands as our energy source as we did in our last hybrid car design. The difference is, this time we used rubber around our wheels to create friction and keep the wheels from spinning off the ground and moving in a direction instead.
It is always so much fun working with this group. They have taught me so much but I have also taught myself some things. I learned how to use a power drill the proper way and I learned how to have fun and be productive at the same time. As a team something that went well was the focus and our ability to have a good time. We knew what had to be done so we did it and afterwards we partied. Some of the things that weren't that good was sharing of responsibility. Citlalli and Lindsey were very focused and Camille and I goofed off. That was partially because I had cracked the wood already and there really wasn't anything besides the movie to make. Two pits were the time responsibility and the production of the project. Two peeks were the end product and the cool commercial that goes with it. This is the last project of the year and I'm glad I could spend it with this group.