Explanation of work:
We were assigned the task of building a vehicle that will transport 2 penny rolls (250 grams) 5 meters exactly without damaging them. We had many plans that did not work out. The first idea was to build a mono rail. Then we tried to make a magnet powered car. Then a weight powered car. And finally we built an rather simple car that actually worked. Since we tried so many other designs, we only had about 10 min to build the car and 30 to do the calculations. |
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Reflection:
Overall our group worked well together however, there are a few things we could improve on. One of these things is time management. Our group had to build a vehicle in the last 10 min of class and then do the calculations the next day at lunch due to bad time management. Another pit was that we did not have time to practice the presentation so we had to wing it. Also we dropped one of the pennies so we got marked down. One peak was that we made a design that got 5 meters which was our goal. Another peak was that we already had all of the materials to build this design when we started because we already grabbed all of the pieces for our previous designs. |
Concepts:
-Distance vs Time: The distance the object travels in a certain amount of time (m/s or other units). Ours travels 5 meters in 6.46 seconds.
-Velocity: The speed that an object is traveling in a certain direction (m/s): Our car travels at a velocity of 1.57 m/s in the first meter, .97 m/s in the second meter, .7 m/s in the third meter, .47 m/s in the fourth meter, and .2 m/s in the last meter.
-Gravitational potential energy: The potential energy of the car due to gravity. Our cars potential energy is 1.42J
-Kinetic energy: The amount of energy used to complete the task. It should equal the potential energy if there is not friction. However, since there is friction, ours is a lot less that the PE. Our kinetic energy was 1.42J
-Thermal energy: The energy that is lost to heat. Over time it should get closer to the total energy but slower and slower.
-Friction: The force causing the car to slow down and come to a stop.
-Distance vs Time: The distance the object travels in a certain amount of time (m/s or other units). Ours travels 5 meters in 6.46 seconds.
-Velocity: The speed that an object is traveling in a certain direction (m/s): Our car travels at a velocity of 1.57 m/s in the first meter, .97 m/s in the second meter, .7 m/s in the third meter, .47 m/s in the fourth meter, and .2 m/s in the last meter.
-Gravitational potential energy: The potential energy of the car due to gravity. Our cars potential energy is 1.42J
-Kinetic energy: The amount of energy used to complete the task. It should equal the potential energy if there is not friction. However, since there is friction, ours is a lot less that the PE. Our kinetic energy was 1.42J
-Thermal energy: The energy that is lost to heat. Over time it should get closer to the total energy but slower and slower.
-Friction: The force causing the car to slow down and come to a stop.