A Further Cut

Overview

Objectives/Goals Objective: The objective of my project is to determine which model car will travel the furthest when released from a ramp, based on its aerodynamic design. My hypothesis was that the teardrop shaped car, due to its highly streamlined design, would be the most aerodynamic model and travel the furthest. Methods/Materials Materials and Methods: Four Styrofoam blocks, all the same size, were cut and shaped into four different body styles: a block (the control), a wedge, a standard sedan, and a futuristic teardrop designed car. Each model was weighed on a postal scale and washers added to the lighter models in order for them to weigh the same. They were then sent down a ramp, ten times each. Their distances were then charted. Results Results: The wedge car went further on average than the other models, while the unshaped block traveled the shortest average distance. Conclusions/Discussion Conclusion: My conclusion is that aerodynamics is an important factor in the distance a model car can travel and that compromises between downforce and drag must be met to design an efficient chassis.

Competition history

• CSEF 2005 Aerodynamics/ Hydrodynamics · Entry J0110

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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