Reflect and Share

Show your final product through photos and/or video

These are my final products and the first one works perfectly but the second one has a break when it stops.

Explain how it works/doesn’t work using scientific terminology

This first device works because the elastic is stretched back and the car is bounced off of the elastic band into the space. The energy is transferred from potential energy to elastic energy when a human is pulling the device back and the elastic energy moves the car forwards into mechanical energy. The second product works similarly where the car is able to transfer potential energy from a human pulling the car back and the elastic band winds back and the elastic energy moves the car forwards into mechanical energy. The elastic works by the short, thick, and soft stretched rubber so that the molecules can move about more freely sideways after being stretched. The rubber band returns to its original position. Rubber’s elasticity is due to its connected thin molecules, as well as the movement of these particles. As the car is being pulled back, the elastic is stretched and bounced back into its original place causing the car to propel forwards. For the second product, you wind up the car’s wheel, the rubber band is stretched and potential energy is stored. When you let go, the elastic band begins to unwind, converting the potential energy into kinetic energy as the car moves forward. The further you spin the rubber band, the more energy can be obtained for the car’s wheels, and the car will travel further.

Explain the areas you were successful in the product/process

The main area in that I was successful was the function of my products. Both my products worked as I excepted as they were able to move forwards. The durability of the first product is very strong, it is able to hold many things on top of the car as it is designed to do so. The wheels are very strong and loose so it is able to travel a far distance. The second product was more successful in the entertainment area because when my peers and myself were playing with it, we seemed to have enjoyed the second product a lot. This was because you did not have to wind it back using your hands and hold a launcher, you could just move the car itself back and the car will move forwards.

Explain the areas you need to improve in the product/process

The biggest area that I needed to change about my process was that I should’ve made more improvements to my first design instead of starting a new one. With the time left I had after finishing my first product, I could paint the car or made a road track that the car could move around in. The second device doesn’t work as well because when you wind back the device and release it, it has a break when it stops. I could improve on the durability as well since the durability of the second product isn’t as good because of the materials. The wooden sticks are not as strong because they are only stuck together by hot glue and the sticks itself is not as durable either. The front wheels in the car are also made up of light plastic so the materials of the car could also have been improved. This car also did not meet my standard of being able to carry things because I made two products, I did not have enough time to cut another piece of wood so that it is able to carry extra weight on top.

Explain the impact of this project on the environment, and the potential client/consumer/audience.

The impact of both my projects is that the wheels of the cars are made up of different types of rubber and plastic like the ones on a toy car. This isn’t as environmentally healthy but it can be reused for other things since it is hot glued. If I were to make another car, I can simply take the wheels out of these two and place them on another car and it will still work. The straw I used for the first product is a paper straw which is more environmentally friendly than plastic straws. The wood I used for both projects is scrap pieces of wood I found in the design center which I reused for my project. I can also take apart the rubber bands from the projects and use them to tie other things which I will also be reusing. The only material that I am not reusing is the gears because they are very thin and easy to break so I might not be able to find another project that I can use them in. The potential consumers that I assume will enjoy my car are anyone that is above the age of 6 and under 18. I think children of most ages can find this entertaining because it is much like other toy cars that children play with. I also asked my friends around middle school and high school including myself and everyone has enjoyed this toy.