.The task:
Everyone is looking for ways to reduce the use of fossil fuels for vehicles. There are electric vehicles, hydrogen powered vehicles, solar powered vehicles…but is it possible to use the wind to power a vehicle?
The design challenge (criteria):
To design and build a model of a wind powered vehicle
The design constraints:
Materials
- 1 sheet of paper
- 3 paper clips
- 1 straw
- 2 coffee stirrers
- 4 life savers
- 1 index card
- 1 pair of scissors
- 1 piece of tape
The test:
Blow on the vehicle to make it move. The vehicle must move freely forward on a flat surface at least 30cm. Measure how long it takes to move at least 30cm.
Improve:
Engineering is all about iteration. Feel free to take your vehicle apart and try again. And again. And again.
Check the maximum distance the vehicle will travel with the initial ’puff’ for a given design; test for the shortest average time a given design takes to travel 30cm.