Name: Class:

Date:

Compressed-air race car

Design Brief

Background:

Have you ever wanted to...

-Travel at high speeds?

-Design and build a vehicle?

-Compete in an exciting and challenging test of aerodynamic principles?

Well if you answered yes to any of these questions then you are ready for the C.A.R.B.O Challenge. The Compressed-Air Race car Build Off or C.A.R.B.O. for short, is an exciting and challenging way to learn all about aerodynamics, design and production in tech-ed.

Your Mission:

To start you are going to do some research, draw up some initial ideas and develop solutions into a final design. Then using pine stock, wheels, axels, hand and power tools you are going to build and test (race) a compressed-air race car.

Specifications:

Your compressed-air race car should fulfill the following requirements:

·  the design should be Aerodynamic

·  the vehicle will be powered by compressed air

·  the design should be safe and strong

·  the design should be attractive and colorful

Your race car cannot exceed the following dimensions:

·  9” minimum length

·  ½” minimum body width

·  2” minimum body height (measured at rear of vehicle from the ground to the top of vehicle)

·  Minimum of three wheels

Materials:

You will be given:

·  1 blank piece of pine which you will use for a chassis.

·  2 front wheels

·  2 rear wheels

·  2 axels

·  4 brass washers

·  1 Straw to reduce axel friction

Tools and Machines

For this project you may use:

·  The band saw / ·  The orbital sander
·  The drill press / ·  The hand sanders
·  Any hand tools / ·  Sand paper

*Remember to always ask permission before you use any power tools*

Theory

AERODYNAMICS:

Aerodynamics is the study of moving air.

There are four (4) forces acting on any moving object.

1) Drag – this force is caused by the friction that a moving object makes as it moves through the air causing the object to slow down.

2) Thrust – this is the forces the makes the object move forward.

3) Lift – this is the forces which causes the object to rise into the air.

4) Gravity – this force that pulls down on objects.

How do you think aerodynamics will affect your car design? Answer below:

Label the following diagram; write the force in the appropriate arrow.

EVALUATION:

Look at each section of your project and your practical work.

Then evaluate the work you have done.

Answer the following questions in your evaluation:

1) Are you proud of what you made? Why?

2) What things did you do well?

3) What could you have done better?

4) Overall, how did you do on your project?

5) Out of 10 what would you give yourself for:

i. How well your project turned out?

ii. How hard you worked?

iii. How much you learned?

Compressed-air race car rubric

Criteria / Beginning
D / Developing
C / Accomplished
B / Exemplary
A / Grade
Journal Logs / Incomplete journal entries with missing journal days / Complete journal entries but lacking in detail / Complete and detailed journal entries with clear “next days plans” / Well detailed journal logs outlining every aspect and stage of the project
Research / Incomplete or unrecorded research / Moderate effort detailing investigation / Cleary recorded research handed in / Detailed research outlining additional design needs.
Possible solutions / No attempt at creating more than one solution / Less than four possible solutions and designs considered / Four or more designs are considered / Four or more designs are chosen with rational for chosen solution
Developmental work/Working Drawings / Poor working drawings lacking construction details
(dimensions, key parts, etc) / Adequate working drawings, but three or more design flaws / Good working drawings with less than three design flaws and indicating all details / Well drafted and clear designs, displaying dimensions and construction assembly
Chassis Construction / Missing or incomplete chassis / Poorly constructed chassis lacking smooth and streamlined shape / Well cut and shaped chassis with clear design principles / Smooth sided, streamlined, balanced and precise dimensions
Component Construction and Assembly / Component construction incomplete / Wheels and axels do not assemble properly or do so with major errors / Wheels and axels are assembled well and are of sturdy construction / Wheels and axel assembly maximizes the use and area of the chassis base
Finishing / No finishing complete / Some finishing done, either sanded or painted / Racer fully finished and painted / Racer fully finished with highly detailed and original paint job
Design / Design copied directly from other source / Well thought out design that provides a working model / Unique design that emphasizes streamlining and aerodynamics / Unique design that offers more to the project and goes beyond the base requirements
Problem Solving / Student did not attempt to fix or modify problems in project / Student fixed problems only with direct instruction / Student modified project in order to fix design problems / Student modified project in advance for anticipated design problems
Lab Mark / Student did not follow safe lab procedures on more that 3 occasions / Student did not follow safe lab procedures on more that 2 occasions / Student did not follow safe lab procedures on more that 1 occasions / Student always followed safe lab procedures
Total


Compressed-air race car unit timetable

Timeframe: 12 classes/ 12 Hours

Class 1 / Project introduction, Introductory research questions
Cl 2 / “
Cl 3 / Follow-up theory, preliminary sketches
Cl 4 / Working drawings
Cl 5 / Chassis construction
Cl 6 / “
Cl 7 / “
Cl 8 / Chassis finishing
Cl 9 / “
Cl 10 / Component assembly
Cl 11 / Final preparation for testing (racing)
Cl 12 / Testing (racing), unit wrap up.