Day 1: Gathering Our Ideas

The two of us met up with each other to discuss and show off our ideas and drafts. There are requirements of 3 prototypes, so we spend the rest of the time creating new, updated drafts. Because none of us were able to finish all three, homework was to brainstorm until the next meeting of more prototypes. At that time, future ideas will be discussed and models/prototypes will be created; vehicles will hopefully be started on by then as well.

Discussed Ideas:

Types of Wheels:

• CDs
• Cup lids (the plastic lids of soda cups)
• Beads
• Crumpled paper
• Tape rolls
• Bottle caps
• Car wheels (legos) 

Made of?

• toothpicks
• paper
• wood
• legos
• straws
• containers
• glass.... ?

Number of Wheels?

• one
• two
• three
• four
• six
• eight

Source of Power?

• balloons
• springs
• rubber bands
• water bottles (pressure form air inside)
• air

Structures (By both)

Made of?

• toothpicks
• paper
• wood
• legos
• straws
• containers 
• glass.... ?

Number of Wheels?

• one
• two
• three
• four
• six
• eight

Source of Power?

• balloons
• springs
• rubber bands
• water bottles (pressure form air inside)
• air

The Big Question

The challenge is to use our knowledge of Newton's laws of motion, momentum, and energy to design and construct a vehicle that will go as far as possible using an unbalanced force to create motion.

Rules:

• Construct a vehicle that can travel at least 3 tiles. Vehicle must stay within a 2-tile wide path.
• No FORWARD force may be applied to the vehicle by the student.
• Vehicle must be made of recycled/reused products. No pre-made vehicle parts.
• Vehicle must travel using an unbalanced force to create motion.
• Students are not allowed to help vehicle along the path.
• Students may not use electricity/fuel cells or manufactured containers of pressurized gas(ie. CO2). This is a land vehicle. All vehicles start from level surface (no ramps or walls). All parts of vehicle must remain on vehicle, except fuel.