Rocket Car Racers

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    Vocabulary By Activity

    Precedent (design) - an earlier example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances. 

    Symmetry - in everyday life refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion and balance. In geometry, identically mirrored across an axis. 



    Aerodynamic - having a shape which reduces the drag or friction from air particles moving past.

    Hatch (design) - an artistic technique used to create tonal or shading effects by drawing closely spaced parallel lines



    Acceleration - The rate at which an object changes velocity. Often measured in the units of (m/s²)

    Inertia - the tendency of objects in motion to stay in motion, and objects at rest to stay at rest, unless a force causes its speed or direction to change.



    Grit (sand paper) - a rating of the size of the abrasive particles embedded in the sandpaper. The lower the grit the faster the sanding

    Critique (design) - analyzing a design, and giving feedback with the goal of improvement.



    Thrust - When a vehicle expels mass in one direction, the accelerated mass will cause a force of equal magnitude but opposite direction to be applied to that vehicle 

    Newton (unit of force) - force that would give a mass of one kilogram an acceleration of one meter per second per second



    Primer (painting) - a preparatory first coating before painting. Priming ensures better adhesion of paint  and provides additional protection for the material being painted.

    Coats (painting) - when painting, multiple layers are often applied once the first layers are dried to achieve a more complete covering of paint


    Drag Coefficient - quantifies the resistance of an object relative to its frontal area as it moves through a fluid.

    Exponential - exponential increase is a process that increases quantity over time at an ever-increasing rate.

    B.E.S.T. Standards By Activity

    4 ELA.9.C.4 - Researching

    VA.912.C.2 - Assessing others artistic work using critical thinking 

    2 ELA.9.C.2 - Communicating Orally



    2 VA.912.C.2 - Assessing our own work with decision-making skills 

    12 SC.912.P.12 - Apply the law of conservation of linear momentum to interactions, such as collisions between objects (aerodynamics)



    12 SC.912.P.12 - Interpret and apply Newton's three laws of motion.

    1 SC.912.N.1 - The Practice of Science

    5 ELA.9.C.5 - Creating and Collaborating



    3 VA.912.S.3 - Through purposeful practice, artists learn to manage, master, and refine simple, then complex, skills and techniques.

    2 VA.912.C.2 - Assessing our own work with decision-making skills 



    12 SC.912.P.12 - Interpret and apply Newton's three laws of motion.

    1 SC.912.N.1 - The Practice of Science

    MA.912.C.2 : Develop an understanding for and determine derivatives



    3 VA.912.S.3 - Through purposeful practice, artists learn to manage, master, and refine simple, then complex, skills and techniques.

    5 ELA.9.C.5 - Creating and Collaborating




    2 VA.912.C.2 - Assessing our own work with decision-making skills 

    12 SC.912.P.12 - Apply the law of conservation of linear momentum to interactions, such as collisions between objects (aerodynamics)

    Aerodynamics

    AERO

    DYNAMICS

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    Description 

    Understanding the aerodynamic impacts of the shape of our cars

    Instructions 

    Trace the profile of your car on a sheet of paper and analyze its aerodynamic properties. 

    Deliverables

    At the end of the activity have a group discussion about the aerodynamic differences of the cars that we have designed. 

    Car Design Research

    Aaron Laniosz

    CAR DESIGN

    RESEARCH

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    Description 

    Before designing and carving our pinewood cars, we will first research car design examples that we like. We can draw inspiration from these cars for the design of our own.  

    Instructions 

    We will search the internet to find representative images of your favorite cars. Be sure to find images that show the characteristics that you can draw inspiration from. Saving these images, we will verbally present to the rest of the class how this car can inspire your design. 

    Deliverables

    A collection of pictures of your inspiration car to support a 1-2 minute verbal presentation. 

    Sanding and Painting

    SANDING

    AND PAINTING

    1 / 5

    Description 

    Once the overall shape of your can has been formed, it is time to focus your attention on the smoothing of the final surface of the wood. Once the surface is perfectly smooth, we will paint. 

    Instructions 

    Step from a rough grit sandpaper (150) to finer and finer grits (220, 300, etc.) Each finer grit will remove less material, but will leave a smoother finish. Once complete, lay down some scrap paper and begin painting your car. 

    Deliverables

    At the end of this activity, we should all have fully painted cars ready for graphics and testing. 

    Rocket Car Propulsion Physics

    ROCKET CAR PROPULSION PHYSICS

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    Rocket Car Propulsion Physics Notes Sheet.pdf
    Answers.pdf

    Description 

    Solving for the speeds that our CO2 cars will reach at certain distances using math and physics. 

    Instructions 

    Print the attached PDF so that each student will be able to follow along in this physics exploration. 

    Deliverables

    At the end of this activity, each student should have an understanding of the relationship between position, speed, acceleration and why calculus exists. 

    Block Carving and Sanding

    BLOCK CARVING AND SANDING

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    Description 

    Shaping and smoothing a pinewood derby car involves the cutting and sanding processes of carving the wood into a dynamic shape and then creating a smooth surface for a sleek, aerodynamic finish that is ready for paint. 

    Instructions 

    We will drill the CO2 cartridge hole in the back of the block, use a coping saw to cut out its profile, and finish the shape with a Dremel and hand sanding. 

    Deliverables

    At the end of this activity, which will span multiple sessions, we will all have shaped and smooth surfaced pinewood derby car designs that are ready for paint. 

    Profile Sketching

    Aaron Laniosz

    SKETCHING

    PROFILES

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    Block Profile Template.pdf

    Description 

    Before you dive into shaping our wooden blocks, we should first explore what possible shapes we can choose to design. Each person will develop three possible options, then through group discussion and critique, we will chose the one design that we will create. 

    Instructions 

    Each person should receive a printed template of three blocks to draw overtop of. Remember your inspiration and feel free to search for more inspiration and you sketch. Start with light pencil lines and then darken in with marker once you have your profiles. You can hatch with pencil the areas that you will cut away. 

    Deliverables 

    Each person should have three distinct designs to choose from drawn out in marker at the end of the activity. 

    Studio Schedule

    Gravity Physics

    Aaron Laniosz

    GRAVITY

    PHYSICS

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    Free Body Diagram Templates.pdf
    Free Body Diagram (answers).pdf

    Description 

    Newtonian physics, also known as classical mechanics, is a system of physics that describes mechanical events. It uses the laws of gravitation and motion to explain how forces act on matter.

    Instructions 

    We will learn Newton's laws of motion to gain a greater understanding of the physics behavior of our race cars. We will do this by comparing drop and roll speeds as well as drawing free body diagrams. 

    Deliverables

    A collection of free body diagrams that illustrate the forces acting on a pinewood derby car in different situations.