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OUR SOLAR CAR Here we proudly present our alternative energy solar car, the Apollo 19. Using only the sun as an energy source, the Apollo 19 has limitless potential. The Apollo 19 is fueled by two powerful solar batteries, allowing it to reach speeds of up to .78 m/s! That's 1.7 miles per hour! The Apollo 19 has a great blend of speed, torque and longevity that makes it perfect for almost every situation.
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SLIDESHOW:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uDXF81wL1WGAQ6cx_0hYcZIZoAeJFiuflxVYQhUkXnY/edit?ts=564b9be5#slide=id.gd6ddd33b0_4_80 |
SUMMARY
The Apollo 19 is a solar car that my group created for our alternative energy car project. Its composition includes: styrofoam, plastic gears, a wooden axle, two DC motors, a switch, a battery pack, two solar batteries, positive and negative wires and lots of electrical tape. The solar panel that we use to charge the batteries remains separate from the car to reduce weight and achieve higher speeds. We started with a styofoam base and then added the motors. From there we installed the switch and wired the battery pack. After seeing that it worked, we moved on by attaching the wheels and mounting the wooden axle. Then came the long and tedious testing phase. After spending several days rigorously testing the car, we were all almost ready to rip the car apart from frustration. Fortunately, with a few more adjustments, it finally worked and became the masterpiece seen today.
PHYSICS CONCEPTS INVOLVED
AMP
The SI unit for electric current. We used amps to help calculate the work, potential energy and kinetic energy of the Apollo 19.
WORK
The amount of energy put into something. We used work to help us calculate the potential and kinetic energies of the Apollo 19,
VELOCITY
The rate of distance covered in a direction. Our velocity also helped us calculate the potential and kinetic energy, but was also used to evaluate the speed of the car.
POTENTIAL ENERGY
The energy an object has due to it's position at a height or in a gravitation field. The potential energy represents the amount of energy that could be used before any energy is lost. Unfortunately, many machines, including the Apollo 19's motors, have a very low efficiency, meaning that only a fraction of the energy available to the Apollo 19 is actually used. This is due to the complexity of the motor system. Our potential energy helped us determine the efficiency of the Apollo 19
KINETIC ENERGY
Energy due to motion. Kinetic energy represents the energy that is actually used by the motors. This represents the energy that is not lost to outside factors such as friction. Our kinetic energy also helped us determine the efficiency of the Apollo 19.
THERMAL ENERGY
The internal energy of an object due to the kinetic energy of its atoms and/or molecules. Thermal energy makes up much of the energy that is lost. It is the excess energy that is not used directly by the motors.
These concepts helped us fully determine the value, speed and efficiency of the Apollo 19. The massive success of the Apollo 19 could not have been achieved without dedication, hard work and lots of equations.
The SI unit for electric current. We used amps to help calculate the work, potential energy and kinetic energy of the Apollo 19.
WORK
The amount of energy put into something. We used work to help us calculate the potential and kinetic energies of the Apollo 19,
VELOCITY
The rate of distance covered in a direction. Our velocity also helped us calculate the potential and kinetic energy, but was also used to evaluate the speed of the car.
POTENTIAL ENERGY
The energy an object has due to it's position at a height or in a gravitation field. The potential energy represents the amount of energy that could be used before any energy is lost. Unfortunately, many machines, including the Apollo 19's motors, have a very low efficiency, meaning that only a fraction of the energy available to the Apollo 19 is actually used. This is due to the complexity of the motor system. Our potential energy helped us determine the efficiency of the Apollo 19
KINETIC ENERGY
Energy due to motion. Kinetic energy represents the energy that is actually used by the motors. This represents the energy that is not lost to outside factors such as friction. Our kinetic energy also helped us determine the efficiency of the Apollo 19.
THERMAL ENERGY
The internal energy of an object due to the kinetic energy of its atoms and/or molecules. Thermal energy makes up much of the energy that is lost. It is the excess energy that is not used directly by the motors.
These concepts helped us fully determine the value, speed and efficiency of the Apollo 19. The massive success of the Apollo 19 could not have been achieved without dedication, hard work and lots of equations.
REFLECION
Throughout the long process of building our solar car, my group had exciting victories and intolerable setbacks. So yet again, it is time too look at what worked and what didn't. Creativity may have been our strongest point. Ideas were always popping up everywhere, and it was great to be part of a creative, productive and ultimately superior group. For example, when our car didn't have enough strength to carry the required weight, one of my group members came up with a great idea to distribute weight all over the vehicle. Although it didn't completely fix the problem, we saw a huge improvement. Unfortunately, along with these achievements there came barriers. For example, while we were testing the car, a wire would always come loose, stopping the motors. When this was happening, we were adjusting the wheels so that we could get a straight path. Every time we would put the wire back in place, the connection would brake before the car reached two meters. We couldn't make a permanent connection because the wire would need to be removed during charging. It was an endless cycle. Eventually, we had to disassemble a piece of the car. This was a design flaw. I think we should've really thought about our design more before constructing the car.
During this project, I also noticed some flaws with myself. I realized that I tend to do more thinking and less talking. This means that I think way ahead without dictating my ideas or considering other points points of view, leaving my group members in the dark. For example, at the beginning of the project, I was the only one who knew how the solar electrical system could work. I started sketching ideas before any of my group members even knew what the drawings meant. Another thing that I learned was that I am not good at distributing work between my group members. While many tasks such as wiring and taping are one person jobs, I did most of them myself, while other members of my group just sat and watched. Lastly, I learned that confidence is key during a presentation. Even if your information isn't solid, staying strong and confident can really make a good impression. I learned this mainly from other groups presenting. The most confident groups seemed like they put the most time and energy into their projects, even if the opposite was true.
Reflecting on this, and all of my other projects,I know what needs to be improved. First of all, dictating my ideas and dictating work seems to be a big issue. I need too slow down and not get too excited and wrapped up in my own ideas. I also need to constantly check that I'm letting other help and that all of my group members, including me, are contributing the same amount of effort, even if that means I need to sacrifice some of my own priorities. For example, during the wiring portion of the project, i could've explained what I was doing and showed my group members how to do it. Secondly, I need to work on being confident when presenting my project. Showing confidence can really help with my presentations and perhaps influence my group members in the future. Lastly, I think I can work on keeping a positive attitude when I am having difficulties with my project. For example, during the testing stage, instead of getting frustrated, I could've spent more time brainstorming possible solutions.
During this project, I also noticed some flaws with myself. I realized that I tend to do more thinking and less talking. This means that I think way ahead without dictating my ideas or considering other points points of view, leaving my group members in the dark. For example, at the beginning of the project, I was the only one who knew how the solar electrical system could work. I started sketching ideas before any of my group members even knew what the drawings meant. Another thing that I learned was that I am not good at distributing work between my group members. While many tasks such as wiring and taping are one person jobs, I did most of them myself, while other members of my group just sat and watched. Lastly, I learned that confidence is key during a presentation. Even if your information isn't solid, staying strong and confident can really make a good impression. I learned this mainly from other groups presenting. The most confident groups seemed like they put the most time and energy into their projects, even if the opposite was true.
Reflecting on this, and all of my other projects,I know what needs to be improved. First of all, dictating my ideas and dictating work seems to be a big issue. I need too slow down and not get too excited and wrapped up in my own ideas. I also need to constantly check that I'm letting other help and that all of my group members, including me, are contributing the same amount of effort, even if that means I need to sacrifice some of my own priorities. For example, during the wiring portion of the project, i could've explained what I was doing and showed my group members how to do it. Secondly, I need to work on being confident when presenting my project. Showing confidence can really help with my presentations and perhaps influence my group members in the future. Lastly, I think I can work on keeping a positive attitude when I am having difficulties with my project. For example, during the testing stage, instead of getting frustrated, I could've spent more time brainstorming possible solutions.