Junior Solar Sprints 2016

Progress Journal Template 2016Put your Car Name herePut your School Name here

Put your car picture

here

How to Use This JournalKeeping a record of the design process is an important part of Junior Solar Sprints. This presentation is here to guide you along. Included are important investigations that will help your team understand the science behind your model solar car. All blue slides are explanation slides, no action needed. All yellow slides require responses. You must fill in and answer

You can change the color, theme, font or anything that doesn’t change the content. You can add more investigations or any additional information, but that is optional. Anything in blue is an example. You must do you own investigations!

To use this presentation go to “File” “Make a Copy...” and save that file to your own Google Drive or computer hard drive.The rules for the race are included at the end of this presentation for reference

Anything in a white box

Our Car – include picture & name

Include:School, Town, Grade(s)

Name of Car (we need this so we can score your journal)

To enter student choice, put a picture of your finished car on this slide. We will print out all pictures submitted and students can vote on race day for their favorite car!

Put a picture of your car here

A good definition explains a word by telling you what the word is, the class of object and its characteristicsExample: Water is a liquid made up of molecules of hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of 2 to 1.

What Class Characteristics

You try! Define Solar Power:

Solar Power is a form of _ _ _ _ _ _ made up of ____ and _____from the _ _ _.

Hint: the missing sections are hyperlinked to websites that contain clues.

Definition: Solar Power

Investigation: Solar PanelsHypothesize on what things may affect how your solar panel works.(The formula goes, If _____ then ____ .)

Idea1 If my solar panel is inside, it will not generate electricity

2 Type your idea here

3 Type your idea here

Investigation: Solar PanelsChoose one of your hypotheses to test. Design an experiment that will help decide if your hypothesis is true. What we are testing: If electricity is generated by the solar panel if it’s inside.How we are testing: Hook the solar panel up to a small motor with a wheel attached. While inside, see if the solar panel will generate electricity to cause the wheel that is attached to the motor to spin.

Type your design here:

Explain the results of your experiment:

Investigation: Solar Panels

A good definition explains a word by telling you what the word is, the class of object and its characteristics

Example: Comic books are publications consisting of illustrations, dialogue balloons, and often focus on super-powered heroes

Gear Ratio is the relationship between _________ parts that can be described in _______.

Definition: Gear Ratio

Driver Follower

Here are the gears included in your kit. To determine the size of each gear, count the “teeth” around the outside.

What are the sizes of gears in your kit, from largest to smallest?

Investigation: Gear Ratio

To help understand Gear Ratios, fill out the following table

GearsDriver:Follower

Simplified How many times does the Follower turn?

10 tooth : 10 tooth 1:1 once

10 tooth : 30 tooth

30 tooth : 60 tooth

20 tooth : 50 tooth

Investigation: Gear Ratio

Investigation: Gear RatioHypothesize on how gears matter to your model car construction. Example: (The formula goes, If _____ then ____ .)

1If my model car’s gears don’t fit together my car won’t move

2Type your idea here

3Type your idea here

Choose one of your hypotheses to test. Design an experiment that will help decide if your hypothesis is true.

Example: If my model car’s gears don’t fit together it won’t move

Investigation: Gear Ratio

Type your design in this box

Explain the results of your experiment:

Investigation: Gear Ratio

MaterialsIMPORTANT - you have to use:

solar panel motor battery pack soda can

We include all the pieces necessary to build a model car but you can use your creativity when it comes to the wheels, chassis, axles, motor mounts and race line attachment.

Use the chart on the following slide to assess your choices for the different components of your model car.

You need to use an empty SODA CAN. No other types accepted, none will be provivded on race day. You may share a can amongst your group

Investigation: Materials

Fill out the chart on the next slide. Have a question? Click on the underlined words in the top row or in the first column for more information.

Part of Car Material Durable? Was this piece recycled?

Can this piece be salvaged and reused?

Does this piece come from a renewable resource?

What is the weight of this piece?

Chassis

Motor mount

Wheels

Axles

Race line attachment (see rule #8)

Soda can compartment (see rule #4)

Battery Vs. SolarBe sure to test out your car with the solar panel. You will need to attach the solar panel to your motor with the guide wires. If your car runs backwards, switch the wires around. If your car works on battery but not on solar, look for this – when you pick the car up do the wheels move but when you put it down the car doesn’t budge? This means you don’t have the right gear ratio. Try using a different combination of gears to get the car moving. It may take several tries, don’t get discouraged! Try, try, try again!

Prototypes and TestingUse this space to explain any issues or problems you had to deal with when testing your model. Also discuss solutions to those problems. Include pictures or videos if possible.

Model Version Did it work with the battery?

Did it work on just solar?

How We Tried to Fix It

Test your vehicle, make modifications and draw conclusions about the modifications you made. Use this chart to record your results.

Trial # Distance (cm) Time (s) Speed (cm/s)

Modifications Made to Our Car:

Junior Solar Sprints offers students an opportunity to learn by means of a friendly completion againsttheir peers where students take responsibility for the design, construction and performance of a modelsolar powered vehicle. The role of the adult is to nurture the spirit of excitement and the joy ofdiscovery and learning that awaits students. Adults should let students assume the responsibility fordesign decisions, construction and maintenance of the vehicle, performance at a race and winning orlosing.Materials and vehicle specifications:1. The Ray Catcher solar panel sold by Pistco and the JSS Solar Panel sold by Solar Made may beused. No other panels are acceptable. Panels cannot be shaved, drilled or delaminated. Pleaseuse small amounts of velcro to attach to your vehicle. All panels must be returned toTransOptions at the end of race day. Schools will be charged for panels not returned. Themotors supplied are the only ones that may be used. Motors may not be rewound ordisassembled. All parts mentioned must be used without modification, though reflectors,supports, small amounts of Velcro and power leads may be added as needed. One solar paneland one motor allowed per car. The remainder of the vehicle can be made from any materials.2. The vehicle, including any attachments, may not be larger than 12 inches wide by 24 inches longby 12 inches high.3. The vehicle, including the support system, must be structurally sound without the solar panelor payload. The payload may not support the solar panel or function as any other componentof the vehicle’s structure. The panel must be able to be easily disconnected from the motor andremoved from the vehicle. (Think of the space shuttle’s payload bay or a trunk of a car!)

4. The vehicle must carry a payload of one empty 12 oz. conventional aluminum soda can. Thecan must not be altered in any way, and application of adhesives, tapes, Velcro or othermaterials in not allowed. It must be presented to the judges is requested. Think of the payloadas a person or cargo in a vehicle. It must remain with the vehicle at all times, and must be easilyand rapidly removed or reinserted. (Juice or iced tea cans are not permitted) The tab must beattached to the can.5. The vehicle must be designed with a compartment that secures the payload even in the case ofa roll-over “accident”. The compartment, including all components required to secure thepayload, must retain its shape with or without the payload.6. The vehicle with its solar panel, must be powered solely by the sun’s energy. No energy storagedevices (flywheel, battery, etc.) may be used in conjunction with the solar panel.7. If the sun’s energy is judged insufficient, batteries and a faux solar panel will be providedwhen cars are called up to the start line. Motor power leads should be readily accessible foreasy attachment.8. The vehicle will be attached to a guide wire in the center of the lane and runs the length of thetrack, with no free end. The attachment device must not be potentially damaging to the line.The wire will be a small diameter line such as 60# fishing line. The wire will be no higher than1.5cm above the track surface.

9. The vehicle must be of students’ own design an manufactured from the current school year. Nocar or major component thereof from a previous year shall be allowed to compete. Solarpanels, motors and other individual parts may be reuse in a new design. Each team from a given school must have a unique car design. A progress journal demonstrating the process andoriginality is expected. Journals will become property of TransOptions. Team members presenttheir vehicles to judges without adult assistance and make their own car repairs andadjustments. Adult work on a vehicle at the event may subject it to disqualification.10. The race track is 66 feet in length. The track is a hard flat surface (asphalt, tennis courts) andmay be oriented in any direction. In the event of rain a slick surface such as a gym floor may beused.11. The name of the car assigned by team members must be clearly visible on the vehicle at alltimes. The name of the car MUST correspond with the Team Registration form that issubmitted to TransOptions prior to race days.Conduct of the Race:12. The races will be run in a double elimination format. Thus teams will be a minimum of twoopportunities to race before you are eliminated from the speed portion of the competition.13. Only 2 members of the race team will be allowed on the track during the race: one at thestarting line and one at the finish line. A non-team member may act as a catcher if necessary.Student non-team members will be chosen over adult non-team members if possible.14. No team shall consist of more than 4 students, grades 6-8.

15. The vehicle will start from behind the starting line with all wheels touching the track. Thesolar panel will be completely shaded by a supplied opaque material cover held above thepanel by a team member. At this time, the vehicle should not be touched by the cover or byany member of the team. Then the MC signals the start of the race, the team member willremove the cover so the panel will be exposed to sunlight. Once the judge starts the race, youcan not touch the car or guide wire until the race is final and vehicles are asked to clear thetrack by the MC. If a car is touched after the start of the race and it moves, it will count as aloss.16. Once the race has begun, team members may only touch their vehicle if it has crossed thefinish line, and may not be on the race lanes until the judges have determined the race iscomplete. Pushing or touch the vehicle after the race has begun will result in disqualification.17. There will be a 2 to 2 ½ minute time limit to prepare your vehicle to race in your lane. A clockwill be used to keep this fair for all teams. The race will start at the end of this time limitregardless of whether your vehicle is ready to compete. The MC will announce the cars thatare racing and those “on deck” for the next race. If you are “on deck” you should be standingbehind the current racers and ready to prepare your vehicle as soon as the race area is cleared.18. Any car that leaves its lane will be disqualified and count as a loss, but may compete in itssecond trial if it has not done so already. If the car leaving its lane interferes with any other cars,those cars will be allowed an additional opportunity to race.

19. Loss of payload during a race will result in disqualification from the race in question. However,the offending vehicle may compete in its second trial if it has not done so already. If the loss ofpayload interferes with any other cars, those cars will be allowed an additional opportunity torace.20. The winner of a heat will be the first 2 vehicles to cross the finish line or the first 2 vehicles totravel the furthest down the track. In the event of a tie, the judges may determine multiplewinners, and admit additional cars to the next round of competition.21. Team members should not leave the track area until cleared by the scoring judge.22. Awards will be given for Speed, Craftsmanship, Engineering, Progress Journal and Best Use ofRecycled Materials.