 Hypothesis
Abstract
Materials
Procedure
Results
Conclusion
Bibliography & Links |
| I
hypothesize that the car with the most aerodynamic assistance will travel
the greatest distance.
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| How
does aerodynamic assistance affect the total distance traveled by cars? This
seemed like an interesting topic worth looking into. I have always been fascinated
by a magazine headline saying, " Ferrari Builds New Supercar."
I wondered how the cars went so much faster than my dad's car. I designed
an experiment to test variables for aerodynamics. I thought that the
car with the most slanted fin in front would travel the farthest.
I researched drag and high / low air pressure. I decided that the car with the slanted
fin would create less high pressure in front, and have less drag. This
would make it contain momentum for a longer time (reduction of air
friction / resistance ), and travel farther.
My procedure was very typical. First, I gathered my materials. I then began to assemble the cars. I was using my pool table as a surface because I know that it's level. I placed two long planks of wood on to the pool table. I did this to keep the cars in straight general direction. I attached an elastic cord to the ends of the planks. To propel the cars I needed a force. However, the force had to have equal power. I pulled the cord back 5 cm. I repeated this step 5 times. Of course in the scientific world, you must record all of your results. Just like me. Out of my 3 cars, the car with the slanted face traveled the greatest distance. My hypothesis proved correct under these conditions. The car with no assistance ( just a block of wood in the rear ) finished second. Bringing up the rear was the car with a piece of cardboard in the front, standing straight up. The car with the straight fin in front was creating too much air pressure in front, rapidly decreasing its speed. Someday, our dinosaur remains ( fossil fuels ) will run out. We will have no means of power except for electricity, and magic. Electricity is more reliable. If our present electric cars ( top speed of 60 mph ) are any foreshadow of electrical powered cars, correct aerodynamics would help. |
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3 rectangular pieces
of wood.
a long block of balsa wood. thin, long piece of wood for fin wheel components
Nails 3 1/4 cm. Wood glue hand saw marking pencil 2 long planks of wood Large elastic cord. metric tapemeasure
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1. I will assemble
the 3 cars according to what I am testing.
a. place ( nail or glue ) the smaller block on the rectangular piece in the back. b. place ( nail or glue ) the fins in different locations. c. add wheels 2. Place the planks of wood on pool table. 3. Attach elastic cord to planks. 4. Pull back cord equal length to propel cars with equal velocity. 5. repeat 5x 6. record all
results
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| The car with the slanted face traveled the greatest distance. | |
|
The car with the most assistance achieved the highest average speed. The car with no assistance finish in second. The car with the least positive assistance (negative) achieved the poorest average. The car with the big fin in front was creating high pressure and being rapidly slowed down. My friend and I are going to build a go-cart. We don't want to be unable to move. |
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|
Egan, Peter. " McLaren
F1" Road & Track 49 Dec. 1997: 68
Egan, Peter. " Ferrari Frenzy " Road & Track 48 Jan. 1997: 58 Frere, Paul. "America's Best " Road & Track 49 Sept. 1997: 78 Robinson, Pam. Air, Wind, Flight. Boston: Alladin Books, 1992. " Aerodynamics." Funk & Wagnalls New Comprehensive International Dictionary
of the English Language. 1st ref. ed. 1982
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Back
to the top of the page. Tom F.
Timber Ridge Magnet School