Don’t let students wing it – have them design CO2 dragsters using engineering concepts. This guide starts the process by teaching them about the engineering design process. As they work through the activities and design their own dragsters, students will learn about:
- Specifications
- Newton’s laws
- Identifying and minimizing friction
- Bearing surfaces
- And much more!
Using the knowledge gained, they then complete two challenges that test their ability to evaluate and make design changes to improve their vehicles.
Student materials in the guide are reproducible for distribution in your classroom. Use this guide as a supplement or use the series as the base for an engineering design course.
Equipment and materials needed to complete guide activities include the Pitsco EZ Build Dragster 32-Pack; basswood and balsa wood dragster class pack; Go/No Go Gauge; Roll Test Ramp; dragster parts such as plastic wheels, axles of various materials, brass rods, straws, washers, axles, and Precision Bearings; caliper; drill press or drill; coping saw; long-nose pliers; Phillips screwdriver; metal saw; tubing cutter; digital scale; bench pulley; measuring tape; modeling clay; sandpaper; graphite and Teflon lubricant; and standard classroom tools and materials. Note: This list is for all activities; individual activities don’t require all listed materials.
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