The Technology Department hosted 3 STEM days for Year 7 this week. Students were working in teams of 4 or 5 and were challenged to design, make and test their team’s rocket powered car over a distance of 20meters.
All students thoroughly enjoyed the days off timetable and working in the Department using a range of different tools and equipment to see who could design and make the fastest Rocket Car.
As for the real technical details:
CO2 Propulsion: Rocket Cars were propelled by gas released from a pieced 12g CO2 cartridge. This enabled indoor and any weather testing and racing with performance similar to A Class rocket motors.
Rocket Car Launcher: CAD files were printed on our laser cutter and our 3D printer, and then assembled. Cars were fired multiple times and spent cartridges recycled.
Composta Block - go 'plastic free': The new car block from Bioviron International is made from a bio-compostable foam derived from corn starch. It can be shaped with saws, knives and hot wire cutters and assembled with other parts using the hot glue. Composta Block is a safe, nontoxic, water- soluble, fully biodegradable polymer material. If the discarded in the environment, the foam would become readily available as a nutrient/food source for microoganisms and enter the microbial food chain.
The winning teams during the three days were the ones that had the most efficient aerodynamics, had a lower mass and well-designed wheels reducing friction and survived the forces of a high-speed run. Every student had the opportunity to test the car in our very own hand made wind tunnel before racing!
And the winners are:
1st Place
Connor Anderson
Noah Dunn
Daisy Yeomans
Hallie Parkes
Phoebe Shrimplin
2nd Place
Betsy Champness-Comley
Maisie-Grace Howell
Catherine Marshall
Harman Singh
Stanley Yale
3rd Place
Eva Hanson
Charlie Jones
Charlie Philpotts
Congratulations to the winning teams and well done to everyone who took part. Plus, a huge thank you to Argus Fire Protection Co Ltd for their sponsorship of this event.