Australian International Academy

Kellyville Campus

MAKING A MODEL CAR

Unit Name: Geared and charged (term 2)

Title: MAKING A MODEL CAR

Name: Lana Jamil

Year Level: 8 Subject: Science

Due: 1st June 2017 QElRaRnEaERTYJNFJNDFJGlDFNJGDJGJDFJGDJG

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Task Outline:
You have been commissioned by Ford Motors Australia to design and Model a car that
runs on renewable energy

Task Description:
You need to design and construct a toy car that runs on a renewable energy resource. The
budget allocated for making this car CANNOT exceed $20. Please try to be as creative as
possible and use recycled materials when possible.

Final submission should include:

Brainstorm
Background research
Design drawing
Budget sheet
Model of the car
Please self-mark your work and submit a reflection (10-12 sentences) along with the
final task.

Background research (remember to include foot notes and a bibliography):

Before designing a car that runs on renewable energy and solar panels we should
understand how it works. Renewable energy is generated from natural sources such as
the sun, wind and geothermal heat. This energy cannot run out or be exhausted, its
constantly being renewed. My model is focused on solar energy. Solar energy is
basically energy created by radiant light and heat from the sun. Then when the energy
is converted into electricity this is called solar power. There are three different types of
solar energy; passive solar, thermal solar and photovoltaic solar. My model is powered
by photovoltaic solar. This means that there is a tiny disc called photovoltaic, photo
meaning light and voltaic basically meaning producing electricity. The energy from the
sun is captured by the disc (solar cell) and then converted into an electrical current.
Another type of energy in my car is elastic energy, elastic energy is stored potential
energy. The energy is stored until the force is removed and returns to its original shape
for example a rubber band or when any object is stretched or compressed elastic
energy is stored. The formula for elastic energy is U= K X^2. The last type of energy in
my car is chemical energy, chemical energy is energy stored in the bonds of chemical
compounds. It is released during a chemical reaction. These are all connected by wires,
how this works is to do with voltage. Voltage is the energy provided to electrons from a
battery source or cell, they move around the circuit through wire. As they are moving
around the circuit some of their electrical energy is transformed into other forms. A car
that is like mine is the Ford hybrid car basically the concept is, is that there is a 1.5-

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meter solar panel on the roof that powers the battery while parked, although this car
has both electric and gas motors with a bigger concept.
Brain storm of idea (this can be done on paper but take picture and add to this section):

Equipment

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Design drawing (this can be done on paper but take picture and add to this section):

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Budget sheet (make sure you use a table):
Material Quantity Cost/Price ($) Total price ($)
Bottle caps 5 0.00 0.00
Solar cells 1 10.95 10.95
Straws 2 0.00 0.00
Wooden skewers 2 0.00 0.00
Paddle pop sticks 4 0.00 0.00
Switch 1 3.40 3.40
Glue 2 0.00 0.00
Glue Gun 1 0.00 0.00
Scissors 1 0.00 0.00
Drill 1 0.00 0.00
3v DC motor 1 4.97 4.97
Fan blade 1 0.00 0.00
Total cost for materials 19.32
Budget 20.00
Saving/Overspend 0.68

Pictures of your final car:

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Reflection (10-12 sentences):
Building this model was hard and I faced many challenges on the way. When I first built
the car, the solar panel was powering the switch and switch would basically power the
motor, when turned on which would power a propeller but the only problem was that
the car wasnt moving because nothing was connected to the cap (wheels) to make
them move. Then I had to move the position of the motor for it to be in line with the
wheel and connect an elastic band and which would be connected to both the wheel
and the motor, so when the motor turns on it will move the elastic band and move the
wheel. Overall, I think that my model turned out well even though there could have
been further improvements. If I were to do this again I would probably just focus on
one type of energy such as elastic energy and make sure that my model works.

MAIN REFERENCE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fePr-9t6PKo

References:

https://originenergy.com.au/energysavers/students/solar-energy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy

https://arena.gov.au/about/what-is-renewable-energy/solar-energy/

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/work-and-energy/hookes-
law/a/what-is-elastic-potential-energy

https://www.reference.com/science/elastic-energy-d6381af3402f6d74#

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_resistance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_energy
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/173863-fords-new-solar-powered-hybrid-car-can-charge-up-
without-plugging-in

www.eschooltoday.com/energy/kinds-of-energy/what-is-chemical-energy.html

study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-chemical-energy-definition-examples.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage

whatis.techtarget.com

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REFERENCES OF PICTURES:
http://www.apec-vc.or.jp/e/modules/tinyd00/?id=74
https://www.meritnation.com/ask-answer/question/explain-with-diagram-the-
flow-of-electric-current-in-an-ele/electricity-and-circuits/491604

Pictures:

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