G4 – Ballon Car Challenge 2018

Hello Grade 4!

Your Design Challenge for today is to create a car that travels the quickest/furthest distance possible using balloon power.

There three main considerations that will help you achieve the best speed & distance:

1. Light weight
   Make your car as light as possible. Carefully plan and select the lightest materials you can find. Analyse every aspect of your car to make it as light as you possibly can. Don’t add anything to your car that is not necessary!
2. Low friction and aligned wheels
   Ensure that your wheels are rolling freely. There should not be any glue, tape, clay or anything else obstructing the wheels because this will slow down your car. Your wheels should also be aligned. This means they are all facing the same direction.  If they are not aligned, your wheels will work against each other and slow down your car.

   Make sure you sketch and plan wheel designs before you start making them so you are sure that your wheels are a low friction design and aligned!

Examples:

www.sciencebuddies.org

www.sciencebuddies.org

Plastic bottle car design:

Cardboard car design:

More examples here!

Instructions/conditions:

• You will work in a team of 3 people. Make a name for your team!
  • One person per team is responsible for taking pictures and videos
  • One person per team is responsible for sketching the design concepts
  • One person per team is responsible for recording all times and distances travelled by your car
• Make a labeled sketch of how you think your car design will look and work
  • Your sketch must be approved by your teacher before you begin making your car
  • You should update your sketch each time you make a major change to your design
• Use the materials supplied in the basket. You may use other materials available in your classroom (check with your teacher)
• Test your car’s speed and distance on the space marked out in your classroom
  • Use the iPad timer and record your times/distances on the sheet provided
• Each team is allowed one visit to either Mr. Jerry or Mr. Sam for technical support

We will learn about problem solving, teamwork, and the design process as well as potential & kinetic energy, friction and resistance, and measurement.

Groups

Good luck,

Mr. Sam and Mr. Jerry