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Wind Powered Matchbox Car Challenge

Details

Space: 
inside
Key Terms: 
Design
prototyping
air friction
lift
force
measurement.
Materials: 
hair dryer
fan

Lesson Overview

Teacher Overview:

Summary: Design and create a wind capture device to move a matchbox car the distance of ten feet.

 

Description:  The challenge is to see if you can design and create a device out of paper to catch the wind; and to power a matchbox car across a hard surface for at least ten feet.

 

Check out the resource, “How Land Sailing Works” to begin the process and learn about land sailing and what it takes to move your matchbox car and keep it moving.  After you have learned about land sailing, jump on the Internet and research different sail designs and begin designing and prototyping your wind sail using just one sheet of paper as your sail and a matchbox car attachment device (most likely tape or glue).  The goal is to have your wind powered matchbox car sail across a hard surface for at least ten feet.

 

Extension: Why make limits on the distance? How far can you get your matchbox car to travel?  Make a second video and show us!

Student Summary: 

Summary: Design and create a wind capture device to move a matchbox car the distance of ten feet.

 

Description:  The challenge is to see if you can design and create a device out of paper to catch the wind; and to power a matchbox car across a hard surface for at least ten feet.

 

Check out the resource, “How Land Sailing Works” to begin the process and learn about land sailing and what it takes to move your matchbox car and keep it moving.  After you have learned about land sailing, jump on the Internet and research different sail designs and begin designing and prototyping your wind sail using just one sheet of paper as your sail and a matchbox car attachment device (most likely tape or glue).  The goal is to have your wind powered matchbox car sail across a hard surface for at least ten feet.

 

Extension: Why make limits on the distance? How far can you get your matchbox car to travel?  Make a second video and show us!

Lesson Phases

Plan

Description: 
Capture video of the plan and of your materials.

Build

Description: 
Capture video of you building your wind capturing device.

Iterate

Description: 
Capture video of a mistake or problem that you ran into.

Final Product

Description: 
Capture your car moving through your house or moving outside on the driveway or sidewalks.

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