IMG_5393

This is the video of the product.

How it works

The Solar panel converts sunlight into electrical energy through photovoltaic (PV) panels or mirrors that concentrate solar radiation(I have used a solar panel). This energy can be used to generate electricity or be stored in batteries. I needed the solar panel to charge the batteries. But to ensure batteries don’t charge the solar panel when there is no sun outside, I used a diode to prevent current flows in one direction. Diode makes the current flow in one way. Also, I used a switch to stop batteries when I don’t need it to move or stop the solar panel to charge them. After the light energy is turned into electricity, we need electric energy to move the toy car. So the electric energy turned to kinetic energy. It comes about from the attraction and repulsion of electrically charged particles. When two charged particles come near each other, their action on each other will either make them move apart or move together. In each case, electrical potential energy is transformed into the kinetic energy of the moving particles.

Areas I was successful in: My product actually worked. It had clear movement. I kind of had a hard time planning the product. However, I gathered a lot of feedback and tried to fix the problem. I have added a diode to make the current flow in one way. I added batteries to make make the toy car move. I think I have used my time wisely because I had made my action on what I have planned before the project.

Areas I need to improve: I need to make my plan more precise because I had a hard time fixing my plan. I had never thought of using a diode, I forgot to add that.

Impact of the project: I have used recyclable materials, especially wood wheels and the main part of the toy car. I also have used solar panel which can charge the batteries. So I don’t need to throw batteries away. My audience was a kid who wasn’t brave to design and make a toy car. After I have shown my product to that kid, he said” I will do better than that, which means he got confidence in his skills.” This also educated him to use recyclable materials more.

I kind of fixed the problem I had last time, the solar panel was not able to move the motors. So, I have used batteries to move the motors. I still have the solar panel, and the solar panel is charging the batteries. I glued the switch to the batteries so the motors can be stopped if I turn off the switch. Also, I connected the solar panels to the diode to batteries so make sure the batteries don’t charge the solar panel and the solar panel charges it. I think this will work, I should try this again next time because I didn’t have enough time to finish the whole thing. It a lot of time to fix the problem I had last time. Next time I should finish this and try if it does work.

DESIGN AND MATERIALS
Here is my plan for the product. Materials I need to build this product are solar panels, a recyclable box, 4 wooden wheels, 2 batteries, 2 motors, and a switch. I have to use a glue gun to glue the motors to the box and glue the solar panel to the top of the box and glue the batteries inside the box. At the back of the box, I have to add a switch.

PROBLEM

The problem I faced with making the product was the power of solar energy was not enough to move the toy car. So I have fixed it. I added 2batteries to move 2motors. And still, I used solar panels to charge the batteries. So the problem is solved. However, I had problem with the diode.

PLAN

Feb17: Finish sketch and plan everything I need

Feb21: start collecting materials and start working on the product

Feb23: Finish my prototype and get feedback from the teacher and try fixing it

Feb27: Get one more feedback from my peer and teacher, finish my product

Mar1: write reflections and blogs and make sure to check the rubric

What I have done today

This engineering task is about designing a toy or device that can be used in physics and a device that transfers energy. And I decided to make a toy car because I want to show 8year old kid to get confidence in his car design skill. He is really creative but he is afraid to build what he has designed. So I want to show him what I have made and give him the confidence to start building toy cars that he has designed. It is also important to use recyclable resources to teach the kid to use recyclable materials. Or I can make a solar paneled lamp, it is for me to save energy and use this at night when I study.

In this toy car, I liked the cool design, but it is hard to collect materials in school.

I liked the choice of light bulb but the details are missing. I think if I select this, I would use a bigger solar panel and try using a different shape of the light bulb.

Overall choosing a lamp makes me save money for buying and saving electric fees. But working for others and giving confidence to that kid is more important.  I think helping other people is better than just thinking about myself. My goal is to make a toy car with recyclable materials to teach the kid that he should also use recallable materials and give them confidence.