| Objective |
To construct a wind-up spool car. |
| Purpose |
To demonstrate simple mechanical power. |
| Participants |
Any number of individuals or teams of two. |
| Materials |
1 cm piece of candle; long nail; thumbtack; elastic band (4 cm long
unstretched); dull knife; cotton thread spool; burnt matchstick. |
| Rules |
Construct a car within half an hour. |
| Procedure |
Race the vehicle along a flat surface and measure the distance traveled. |
| Judging |
The car that travels the longest distance will be declared the winner.
|
| Notes |
With the knife cut notches on the spool so it looks like a tractor
wheel. Put the thumbtack on one end of the spool and loop the elastic
over it. Push the elastic through the hole in the candle and thread
the matchstick through the loop.
|
|
Source
|
Youth Science Foundation Science Olympics Manual. |
