Stock Car Pasta Project

Background Information:

From the atoms and molecules that make up our cells to the galaxies that make up the universe, all matter is in motion. Even when an object appears to be stationary, such as a stalled car, it is in motion because the Earth is spinning on its axis. Objects are continuously under the influence of forces, but it is an unbalanced force that causes objects to speed up, slow down, or change direction. Variables that affect the change in motion are the amount of the unbalanced force exerted on the object and the mass of the object.

Lesson goals:

You will design a stock car made from various kinds of pasta. Your goal is to create a stock car that will travel down a ramp and across the floor for a total of 180cm.

You will work in teams of four to complete the project.

The challenge:

Jeff Gordon (#24) is tired of losing to Tony Stewart (#14). Kyle Busch (#18), and Jimmie Johnson (#48). With only three races left in the Sprint Cup series, Jeff Gordon is seeking assistance in designing a race care worthy of competing in the next race. Jeff wants a car that has the speed and handling to potentially beat all of his competitors, especially Tony, Kyle and Jimmie. The upcoming race is the longest of the season, so the car must travel a long distance in a short period of time. Because of your academic thrill-seeking personality, you accept Jeff Gordon’s challenge.

Due the expense of auto parts and the cost of race track rental fees, you decided to design a model race car made from inexpensive materials, pasta and hot glue, and use a wooden ramp to simulate a race track. Since a stock car driver is only as good as his supporting team, you recruit 3 team members who, based on their diverse skills, will strengthen your team. Before you and your team begin construction of your stock car pasta pod model, you will develop a drawing of what you think you model should look like, given the types of pasta you have available (this is your working hypothesis).

Once your drawing is complete, you must show it to me for approval before beginning actual construction of you pasta model. Upon completion and testing of your pasta pod, you will be tasked with justifying, in a formal written report, your results based on the evidence gathered during the lesson. Jeff is very anxious to see you finished product, so, team START YOUR GLUE GUNS!!!

Materials:

  • Graph paper for drawn model of the hypothesized stock car pasta and for graphing data
  • Metric rulers (for drawings)
  • Pasta (lasagna, spaghetti, manicotti, wagon wheels, penne, rigatoni, etc…)
  • Glue guns and glue sticks
  • Wooden race ramps (40cm x 60 cm) with one end tapered and the other attached to the wall approximately 10cm of the floor (approximately baseboard height)
  • Meter sticks or a metric tape measure to determine the distance the pasta car travels

Procedure:

  1. As a class, we will watch “NASCAR All Star Race 2009.”
  2. Each team will brainstorm ways to overcome friction in moving objects. Identify at least 3 science terms that can be used to explain why objects speed up or slow down. List them here: (3 points)

a.______

b. ______

c. ______

  1. Look at the materials you will be using for this project. They will be displayed on my desk or in the back of the room. This will give you an idea of what you will be using to construct your car before you start drawing your model.
  2. Using graph paper, you will draw a model of your stock car. Remember this is your working hypothesis. This drawing should be neat and labeled with exact measurements (cm) you plan to use for each part of your car.
  3. Show me your teams proposed model of your stock car. You must have teacher approval before you move to the next step.
  4. Your team should now begin constructing your pasta pod stock cars. You are encouraged to make modifications (from your hypothesized car) if you see a need to. Remember, your goal is for your car to travel at least 180cm.
  5. At any time, you may use the practice ramp, to see if the car is travelling the goal distance of 180 cm.
  6. Once your stock car pod is complete, we will have the official distance races. Each team will have 3 heats to record the distance their stock car traveled. This data should be recorded the table below.(5 points)

Team name / Heat #1
(cm) / Heat #2
(cm) / Heat #3
(cm) / Average distance (cm)

Analysis:

9. Analyze your team’s data and the other teams.

  1. Construct a line graph to show how far your car traveled during the 3 heats. Make sure you follow the rules of graphing.(5 points)
  1. Construct a bar graph to display the average distance traveled by each team. Use colored pencils to make the bar graph. Use a different color for each team. Again, follow the rules of graphing!(5 points)

Checkered Flag Conclusion:

  1. Use the information from your original drawings, data from your graphs, and pasta pod models to analyze and draw connections between the distance traveled and pasta pod designs as seen through the eyes of the physics terms we discussed in step #2.
  2. You will write a formal lab report and type the final copy on the computer. The following must be included in your lab report: (15 points)
  3. Title page
  4. The title of the lab activity
  5. The names of the individual team members
  6. The purpose of the activity
  7. Drawing of the original hypothesized stock car pasta pod model.
  8. Data table containing class data
  9. Graph #1: Hand drawing of your team’s data
  10. Using colored pencils, graph the distance traveled during each heat. Label the independent and dependent axes; include data labels, and a graph title.
  11. Graph #2: Average distance pasta pod traveled
  12. Using colored pencils, graph the average distance that each team’s stock car pasta pod traveled during the three heats. Label the independent and dependent axes; include data labels, and a graph title.
  13. Conclusions
  14. Using class models and data generated from all three heats, explain your results and compare them to the results of others
  15. Terms such as acceleration, distance, force, friction, mass, momentum and speed are used in science to explain the motion of objects. Use these science terms to justify and defend your pasta pod model to those of the competing group’s models.
  16. At the beginning of this activity, you were tasked with designing a model that Jeff Gordon could use in an upcoming Sprint Cup race. Provide sound evidence that could be used to convince Jeff Gordon’s racing team that you have a stock car pasta pod model worthy of racing in the Sprint Cup race.
  17. If you were given the opportunity to design a second stock car pasta pod, knowing what you know now, how would your design change? Explain your answer.

Stock Car Pasta Pod Rubric
Engine trouble leaves pasta pod in garage-completed a stock car pasta pod but did not attempt race / Spark plugs missing-stock car pasta pod travels 20cm past the ramp / Engine sputtering-stock car pasta pod travels a minimum of 60cm past the ramp / Middle of the pack, need to draft for increased distance-stock car pasta pod travels a minimum of 100cm past the ramp / Checkered flag in sight but Jimmie, Kyle, and Tony are hot on your bumper-stock car pasta pod travels a minimum of 140cm past the ramp / Congratulations!!!
Sprint Cup Championship! Stock car pasta pod exceeds 180cm past the ramp
5 points / 10 points / 15 points / 20 points / 25 points / 30 points