Level 1 Physics

Vandebilt High School

W. Dupre

 

EVENT: DELUX    JOULE MOBILE

DATE & TIME: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2002  DURING CLASS

LOCATION: T.B.A. (Likely to be the breeze-way)

NUMBER OF TEAM MEMBERS: UP TO THREE (3); OF YOUR OWN CHOOSING

 

OBJECTIVE: Design and build a vehicle which will travel the greatest distance over a level surface using only the energy released as your vehicle rolls from a ramp. The energy to get your vehicle on the ramp will be supplied by a 1 kg mass as it falls a distance of 20 cm, thereby converting the potential energy of the mass into kinetic energy of the vehicle. 

 

CONCEPTS COVERED: VECTORS, FORCE, ACCELERATION, FRICTION, WORK, ENERGY, POTENTIAL ENERGY, KINETIC ENERGY, CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM, and  NEWTON'S LAWS OF MOTION

 

PROCEDURE: OFFICIAL RULES

 

  1. Vehicles must be completed by the end of the day on Thursday, February 7, 2002.
  2. You are responsible for being present to personally operate your vehicle on the day of the competition.
  3. The energy to run the vehicle is to be stored by raising a mass 20 cm from its rest position. The energy released as the mass falls will propel the vehicle up the ramp which will be inclined at approximately 20O.  The potential energy stored as the vehicle climbs the ramp will be converted to kinetic energy to drive the vehicle forward. No other source of energy may be used. 
  4. Materials. There are NO RESTRICTIONS!! You may use whatever materials your team decides.
  5. The vehicle may be designed for the mass to disengage from the vehicle as it falls or it may come to rest on the vehicle; however, once the vehicle starts down the ramp, all parts of the vehicle must move with the vehicle.  If part of the vehicle falls off during the run, that part which travels the shortest distance will be used for the official distance measurement.
  6. After the vehicle begins to move, it must be self-guided.  If it does not move in a straight line, only the component of its motion in the designated direction will be measured as the official distance.
  7. Each team member must log-in a minimum of 5 hours of work on the device.
  8. Members can only work on the device in Rm. 110 at VCHS.  All materials and tools needed to complete the device must be supplied and brought to school in its "original form" by the team members.
  9. Team members will be allowed to work on their device during class on Tuesday, January 29; Friday, February 1; and Wednesday, February 6. Beginning tomorrow, the physics' lab will be open before school, at recess, at lunch, and after school for you to work on your vehicle.
  10. Remember: Speed is NOT important in this event --- only the distance covered.

 

 

PROJECT REPORT: Is to include:

  1. a description of the overall design of your vehicle, drawings, pictures, etc. would be beneficial.
  2. an explanation, in detail, of the propulsion apparatus of the vehicle (how you are making it move).
  3. a statement of the distance your vehicle traveled.
  4. calculations of the following quantities, completed to the best of your ability: the gravitational potential energy at the top of the ramp, its speed at the bottom of the ramp, the kinetic energy at the bottom of the ramp, the coefficient of friction between the ramp and the ground.
  5. an explanation of the theory behind this activity.  In other words, what role did each of the concepts mentioned above play in building a "good" vehicle.
  6. upon finishing the competition, a description of how you would improve your design to make your vehicle travel a greater distance.
  7. any additional comments you wish.

 

RACE DAY:

Time permitting, each team will be allowed two (2) runs to achieve their greatest results.  Only the best run will be counted.

 

GRADING: 65 points will be awarded for this project as follows:

 

1) Having a completed vehicle and the required log-in time. (20 points)

2) The results of your run. (25 points, determined by the order of finish.)

3) The Lab Report. (20 points)