Many people in the world can’t afford cars and therefore must rely on public transportation which can be unreliable which makes it difficult to get to work on time daily as well as accomplish other errands like grocery shopping. Fuel efficiency is measured in MPG or miles per gallon of gas. If a car has a higher MPG that means it is more fuel
efficient than a car with a lower MPG.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the
average person spends $9,641 per year to own a car based on gas prices of $2.25/gallon. Fuel efficiency also has a huge impact on the environment. If a car is more fuel efficient, it consumes on average less gas and therefore releases less pollution into the air.
Students will use the engineering design process to design and build a gravity car that when rolled down a ramp, will travel the farthest without hitting the fan that is opposing it.
This Guide provides the instructor information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students. The video also leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints.