Solar challenge teacher sheet.

P1a:10:10a
Young scientific talent from all over the world recently converged in Australia for a car
rally with a difference: no fuel allowed! Competitors raced more than 3000 km in solar
powered cars! the winners clocked an ama"ing average speed of 100 km#h! $tudents
study the cars% energy transfers& 'hey then put themselves in the designer%s chair to
decide which features to spend most money on so as to create a winning car for the ne(t
)orld $olar Challenge!
11 * 1+ ,nergy resources! forces
Curriculum link
-. ,nergy resources
/enewa0le energy resources include sunlight
1ow a device works using a renewa0le energy resource
/enewa0le resources can 0e used to generate electricity
-2 3orces
3riction is a force which opposes motion
1ow friction 0etween two surfaces can 0e reduced using a lu0ricant
Learning Objective
$tudents will:
4earn a0out the energy transfers in solar cars
Consider the design features that will ma(imise a solar car%s speed
Running the activity
$how page 1 5either pro6ected or as an 71'8& 9iscuss the :uestions towards the
0ottom of the page: Are the cars pedalpowered; 1ow did they do it; <et students to
try to guess the cars% energy source& 'hen tell students that they are on the design team
for the ne(t race= and introduce the task&
9isplay page 2& >ake sure students understand the $ankey diagram= mentioning
energy transfer and conservation& You might like to reinforce learning here 0y asking
pairs or groups to plan 0rief '? presentations to e(plain the diagram&
3inally= give each group a photocopy of page 3& Check students understand the two
parts of the task& Possible answers for the first part include: body: streamlined
shape= minimum mass! solar cells: ma(imum possi0le area= ma(imum efficiency of
converting sunlight into electricity! motor: minimum mass= ma(imum efficiency for
converting electricity into movement! batteries: minimum mass= ma(imum efficiency for
electricity in# electricity out! tyres: consider area on the road and how inflated they should
0e& 'here are no correct answers for the second part of the task * the value of this
task is in the discussion& .f you wish= run a plenary in which students share their ideas
a0out which areas to invest most heavily in&
eb Links
'he main we0 site for the )orld $olar Challenge is comprehensive and includes some
great images&
http:##www&wsc&org&au#@00A#competition#
'he official media we0 site includes a selection of interesting articles= including one
giving the race%s winners&
http:##www&wsc&org&au#media#
'his we0 site is a simulation in which students B0uild% their own solar cars= considering
the financial costs of different components& <reat for reinforcing and developing
understanding= 0ut perhaps a little slowmoving for some students&
http:##wsc&pv&unsw&edu&au#
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