STEM Update April 27

Happy Last Week of April!

This week (April 27 - May 1)  you will build your gravity car.  Next week you will optimize and test it.  I want you to keep the following in mind as you build your car:

     Criteria: 

          1.  Car must move in a straight line.

          2.  Car must use a dropping weight attached to one axle by a string or fishing line to make the car move forward.

          3.  Car must have 4 wheels.

Your goal is to get the car to travel at least 3 feet.

     Important things to consider as you build your car:

          -  Build your car to last (as much as is possible).  

          -  You will be working with your car for 4 to 5 weeks!  Don't just slap it together and say "Voila".

          -  You will be doing many, many, many tests with your car.  It should be sturdy and reliable.

          -  I will be asking you to modify parts of your car such as the axles and wheels.  Be prepared for that.

To get credit for this assignment - Gravity Car Build - you will need to submit 3 photos of your completed car: front view, side view, and top view.  Don't worry about submitting video of your car - you will do that next week.

Assignment is due Friday, May 1 at 3:00.

Finally, it's important to understand that as you start to build you car, you might realize parts of your initial design may not work.  That's okay.  Again, the purpose of the design was to get you thinking about how a gravity car would work, what it might look like, and what materials you could use.  Changing the design is normal.

Good luck!  I can't wait to see all your cleverly build cars!