Maglev Velocity Challenge

Challenge: Build a motorized maglev car that will travel down the track with the greastest velocity.

Research: What is velocity? Velocity is the amount of distance an object travels in a certain amount of time. To find velocity you need to divide the distance an object travels by the time it took to travel that distance.

MATERIALS You will be given a maglev base, maglev body, piece of Velcro, 3 popsicle sticks, 1 motor, 1 battery holder, 9V battery, fan blade, switch, 1 foam block, and 1 popsicle with tape. You may use the glue gun with the teacher’s permission. You may use other materials then the ones listed above to build your car, but it must be propelled down the track by the spinning motor. Time You will have three days to build and test your car before racing the car down the track.

DESIGN With your group, you need to design how you want your car to look. Before starting you must decide on a design for your car. Do not color or add paper to your car until it goes down the 8 foot long track. Here are some things to think about when you design your car. Where should you place the motor and blade? How are you going to attach the motor to the car? Make sure your fan blade is not hitting the track. Where are you going to place the battery in/on the car? GRADING (see attached rubric) Each person in the group will be graded using the maglev rubric. You will be graded on how well your group works together, how clean you keep the area you work, your creativity of the design of the car, and the velocity your car reaches.

1.Place your car at the beginning of the track. 2.Press to start the test. 3.Then release your car down the track. 4.Press to stop the test. First Trial

Reflection: What was the top velocity? What changes are you going to make the in order to increase your car’s velocity?

1.Place your car at the beginning of the track. 2.Press to start the test. 3.Then release your car down the track. 4.Press to stop the test. Second Trial

Reflection: Was your top velocity greater or less then the previous test? Did your changes help the velocity? What are you going to do next to increase the velocity?

1.Place your car at the beginning of the track. 2.Press to start the test. 3.Then release your car down the track. 4.Press to stop the test. Third Trial

Reflection: Was your top velocity greater or less then the previous tests? Do you think this is the top velocity you can reach with the car? If not, what other changes do you think you can make before race day?

1.Place your car at the beginning of the track. 2.Press to start the test. 3.Then release your car down the track. 4.Press to stop the test. Race Day Trial

Conclusion: What was the top velocity that your car reached on race day? What could you have done to have improved the velocity of your car on race day? After building and testing the car what would you have done differently? Explain why?