SOLAR POWERED CAR FINAL PREPARATIONS!

Please use this as clarification for the analysis and presentation for your car. You still need
to complete everything outlined on the previous assignments – this is to clarify a couple of
things:

Analysis question 4: you are asked to calculate a ton of things...

1. First find the velocities of ALL of the cars – this goes on your data table with an
example calculation.
2. FOR YOUR CAR ONLY:
a. Calculate the kinetic energy (you may have to go and measure the mass of the
car to do this!). SHOW your work!
b. Calculate the force the car used to move (you know, from the amount of work
it did...). Again with the SHOWING the work!
c. Calculate the power of the car over the entire race. SHOW your work!
d. Assume that power is the electrical power and find the current through your
circuit (if you followed the instructions for the solar panel, you attached the
voltages in series). SHOW your work!
e. Calculate the resistance of the motor! SHOW your work...
f. Whew. That’s it for calculations. Remember, this is MOST of your credit.
g. Now create a bar graph of the velocities of each car in your class. Rank them
to see who won!
h. Go back to the other analysis and finish up those questions about your
performance and design.

Poster presentation theory question 3: you are asked about the theory. Your group is going
to be assigned ONE of the following to present to the rest of the class (please circle or
highlight it and include it on your poster):
1. Describe the energy transformations used by your car. Explain the variables in your
KE calculation and how they affected your car’s performance. What can you change
to make your car better?
2. Describe the forces used by your car. Explain the variables in your force calculation
and how they affected your car’s performance. What can you change to make your
car better?
3. Describe the power output of your car. Explain the variables in your power
calculation and how they affected your car’s performance. What can you change to
make your car better?
4. Describe the electrical current in the circuit of your car. Explain the variables in your
current calculation and how they affected your car’s performance. What can you
change to make your car better?
5. Describe the electrical resistance in your car. Explain the variables in your resistance
calculation and how they affected your car’s performance. What can you change to
make your car better?
6. Describe the electromagnetic energy used by your car. Explain the type of wave
(general and specific) and how they affected your car’s performance. What can you
change to make your car better?
7. Go back to the presentation section and complete the conclusion and poster for the
final day of class!