RACE CARS(Compressed Air Cars)

8th Grade Ind. TechMiss Check

Table of ContentsUnit 1- Understand the ProblemUnit 2- Gather InformationUnit 3-Develop SolutionsUnit 4-Implement a SolutionUnit 5-Test and EvaluateUnit 6-Redesign and Communicate

Unit 2 – Gather Information

Aerodynamics and DragIn this activity, you will:

-Gather information about the Compressed Air Car Design project.

-Evaluate how drag and weight can affect a car’s aerodynamics.

Explore DragGlossary

Aerodynamics-As a car drives down a road, air flows around it. The way air flows around cars and other objects is studied in aerodynamics. Engineers use what they learn in aerodynamics to design fast cars, boats, airplanes, and even rockets.

Drag-As a car drives down a road, the air flowing around it resists its motion and slows it down. The force that slows down the car is called drag. A race car engineer’s goal is to minimize drag so a car can move as fast as possible.

Form Drag- Recall that drag is a force that slows a car down. When drag is caused by the shape of the car, it is called form drag. Designers try to minimize form drag by streamlining a car body. Streamlining is shaping a car so that it has the smallest amount of drag when air flows around it.

Transition Point- When air flows over a car, it follows the shape of the car. If the smooth air flow is interrupted, it moves away from the car and flows in many different directions. It swirls and twist in little pockets of air, called eddies. This air flow is turbulent. The location where the smooth air becomes turbulent is called a transition point.

Glossary Continued..

Eddies

Yellow CarThis car body is level and even. Because the transition point is at the rear of the car body, the air flow is streamlined over most of the car body.

Race Time-23.12 seconds

Blue CarThis car body is blunt. Because the transition point is at the middle of the car body, the air flow is streamlined over only about half of the car body and turbulent over the other half of the car body.

Race Time -24.28 seconds

Red CarThis car body is rough and choppy. Because the transition point is at the front of the car, the air flow is turbulent over most of the car body.

Race Time - 26.95 seconds

Complete Questions Numbered OneThrough Four

Aerodynamics studies the way air flows around objects.

Drag is a force that slows a car down. Form drag is drag produced by the shape of the car.

Streamlining is shaping an object so that it has the smallest amount of form drag as air flows around it.

A transition point is a location where smooth air becomes turbulent.

The ideal car body has a transition point as far back on the car as possible.

Summary

Aerodynamics and WeightGlossary

Aerodynamics- Recall, aerodynamics is the study of the way air flows around objects. Engineers use aerodynamics to develop fast cars.

Weight- The weight of a race car can affect how fast it moves. Weight is a measure of the force of gravity on an object. It is a measure of how heavy an object is. The car’s weight is a result of the materials that are used to build a car and the way those materials are used. Often specifications establish the minimum and maximum car weight allowed for competition.

Car WeightsYellow Car

This car has a standard body design and is made from light materials. Because none of the car’s center section has been hollowed out, it is heavier than the red and blue cars.

Race Time – 25.31 seconds

Car WeightsBlue Car

This car has a standard body design and is made from light materials. Because some of the car’s center section has been hollowed out, it is lighter than the yellow car, but heavier than the red car.

Race Time – 22.60 seconds

Car WeightsRed Car

This car has a standard body design and is made from light materials. Because most of the car’s center section has been hollowed out, it is lighter than the blue and yellow cars. But when this car races, it does not offer enough support to the wheels and axles. The axle will break through the wood, and the car cannot finish the race.

Race Time – N/A

Top View

Complete Questions Numbered FiveThrough Seven

Summary

Weight is a measure of how heavy an object is. The weight of a race car can affect how fast it moves.

The ideal car weight is one that is as light as possible, but does not sacrifice its strength.

Congratulations! You have completed Unit 2- Gather Information. You will now move onto Unit 3. The power point is titled “Unit 3 – Develop Solutions”.