12.01 Honors Project
.docx
School
Wayne State College**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
PHY MISC
Subject
Mechanical Engineering
Date
Jan 1, 2025
Pages
3
Uploaded by MasterHummingbird1120
Engineering Motion: Designing a Mechanically Powered Toy VehicleSamira DirakiMr. JamesKeystone Online School01/01/2025Designing and building a mechanically powered toy vehicle involves understanding and applying essential physics and engineering principles. This project emphasizes the relationship between energy and motion and demonstrates how these concepts can be used in practical and engaging ways. The goal is to design, construct, and test a toy that moves forward using only mechanical power, thereby exploring concepts such as kinetic and potential energy, energy conservation, work, power, and momentum.Mechanically powered toys operate on the fundamental principles of work and energy. For example, many toys, including rubber band-powered airplanes and friction-powered cars, utilize mechanisms that store potential energy and convert it into kinetic energy to create motion.In a rubber band-powered airplane, the energy transformation process begins when a user twists the propeller to wind the rubber band, thereby storing elastic potential energy. When released, this energy converts into kinetic energy, causing the propeller to spin and propel the airplane forward. The airplane’s wings create lift as air moves over their surface, enabling it to fly. Similarly, friction-powered cars use a flywheel to store rotational kinetic energy, which is later transferred to the wheels, propelling the car forward when released.The project began with the selection of a suitable design for the toy vehicle. After evaluating different options, the decision was made to construct a rubber band-powered car. The
car’s design included a lightweight wooden chassis, plastic bottle caps for wheels, and a rubber band mechanism. The chassis was constructed using balsa wood due to its low weight and high strength-to-weight ratio. A dowel rod served as the axle for the wheels, while a rubber band stretched between two hooks acted as the primary energy storage mechanism. The car was designed to move forward in a straight line and could be easily assembled using household materials.The construction process started with assembling the chassis. A rectangular base was cut from balsa wood, and two dowel rods were fixed perpendicular to its length to serve as axles. The bottle caps were punctured in their centers and securely attached to the axles as wheels. A hook was mounted on one end of the chassis, and another hook was attached to the rear axle. A rubber band was looped between these hooks, completing the energy storage mechanism. Once the rubber band was wound by rotating the rear axle, it stored elastic potential energy. Upon release, this energy was converted into kinetic energy, propelling the car forward.The physics principles underlying the car’s motion are critical to its operation. The work-energy theorem states that the work done on the rubber band is equal to the change in its kinetic energy. By winding the rubber band, work is performed, and this work is stored as elastic potential energy. When the rubber band unwinds, the stored energy is released, and the kinetic energy of the car increases, resulting in motion. Additionally, the conservation of energy principle ensures that the total energy in the system remains constant, with potential energy transforming into kinetic energy and overcoming frictional forces.Testing the toy car involved measuring its performance and analyzing its motion. The carwas wound several times and released on a smooth surface, and its displacement over time was
recorded using video footage. From the footage, the car’s velocity and acceleration were calculated. For example, if the car traveled 2 meters in 4 seconds, its average velocity was 0.5 meters per second. Using the car’s mass and velocity, its momentum and kinetic energy were also determined. For instance, if the car’s mass was 0.2 kilograms, its momentum was calculated as 0.1 kg•m/s, and its kinetic energy as 0.05 joules.The final analysis demonstrated that the toy car performed as expected, showcasing the practical application of physics principles. The elastic potential energy stored in the rubber band effectively converted into kinetic energy, propelling the car forward. Factors such as friction and air resistance slightly reduced the car’s efficiency, but these were anticipated and accounted for in the design.In conclusion, designing and building a mechanically powered toy vehicle provided an engaging way to apply physics and engineering principles. The project highlighted the importance of energy transformation, conservation, and the relationship between work and motion. By constructing the toy car and analyzing its performance, a deeper understanding of these principles was achieved. This experience not only demonstrated the practical applications of physics but also encouraged creativity and problem-solving, resulting in a successful and educational project.