STEM Paper Car Activity

THE GREAT PAPER RACE

Statement of Problem:  Your two, three or four person engineering team is being charged with designing, constructing, and racing a car built almost entirely out of paper.  Your car will be designed using SolidWorks! 

Race:  A ramp will be provided  The cars are to be released (with a bag of marbles to provide some weight) from the top of the ramp.  The car that rolls the furthest will receive the most points.  The ramp will be available before the actual race day so that you may test!  Where the front wheels end up is the spot we consider the furthest! 

Materials Provided by Teacher:     These are the ONLY things you can use except for items used to decorate, like color pencils, markers, etc.  NO decals or stickers may be used.

            Plain white paper

            School glue

            2 straws (for axles only!) Provided only once by teacher

Time Limitations: 

The groups have seven school days to complete this Learning Activity.  2 additional days have been set aside for Great Paper Race.  Design starts Thursday, March 18^th and ends Monday, March 30^th.  Your materials will be available on Friday, March 20^th.  The racing/refining of your cars will be done on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 31^st & April 1^st!  

The Paper Car Must:                                     

-Be under 3 inches wide and 8 inches long                         

-Carry a weight (bag of marbles) - I’ll provide this!              

-Have at least 3 working wheels                                         

-Have at least two working axles                                        

-Have a name on it so that is identifiable as yours!             

Procedure:

1.             Review the problem/rules. 

2.             Decide who is in each group.  Write this down and give to me.  I will assign a group number.  No changes to groups after day 2.

3.             Generate ideas for the car design.

4.             Print your design using SolidWorks so that you may begin building your car.

5.             Construct car with the above listed items.

6.             Test/evaluate items and refine.

Grading: 3 grades will come from this!!!!!!!

-Your group needs to draw your car using SolidWorks.  This is an activity grade and is due Friday, March 20^th.  1 per group!

- Your group needs to make a list of the jobs and responsibilities that are needed to complete this task.  Assign each person a job.  Write down and turn in on Tuesday, March 24^th.  This is an activity grade.  1 per group!

- The car that rolls the furthest will receive the most points and all others will receive points as a percentage of the longest run.   This is a TEST grade.  1 per group!