Solar Car Challenge Unit of Work – RACE

 

Summary of Unit

The Solar Car Challenge unit provides students with the opportunity to investigate the principles behind electric vehicles and the importance of finding alternative energy sources to drive the transport industry. Students will develop an understanding of electric motors and investigate key concepts related to motion.

Students will use the iSTEM process to develop a solution to the Solar Car Pursuit Challenge and integrate the use of technology to analyse aspects of their vehicle’s motion.

In this resource page, there are materials to support a range of different STEM Learning Activities that are related to Motion. Teachers are encouraged to select a STEM Learning Activity which best suit.

 


STEM Learning Activities – SISP Mini Electric Vehicle Challenge

Mini EV Track

The SISP Secondary solar car challenge is designed to be used in conjunction with the Kite Magic Solar Car kits for students to apply their knowledge of solar energy and electric circuits. Focusing on technology and engineering, these kits are ideal for iSTEM classes. Schools are encouraged to use the solar car kits to run an in-school or intra-school solar car challenge at the end of this unit, where students test their designs. This solar car pursuit race is designed to test students’ skills of engineering and photovoltaics. Students will need to solve many problems before they have a car ready to race in this event, require team-effort plus a range of new skills.

Students will need to consider some of the following – wheel size (this may require 3D printing or laser cutting); gear ratios; connection of the two solar panels for series and parallel; placement of components; angle of the solar panels; friction points on the car plus the guides needed to help the vehicle around the track; different types of materials for the chassis and other parts of the car, plus more that students will think of as they build their car. Teachers may also like to add a creative side and look for the best looking car. See resource section below for instructions and videos on how to construct and draw a solar car.

This unit requires the school to purchase the Kite Magic Solar Car Kits.

A class set of eight kits is suitable for 24 students. Each kit is made up of 2 Solar Panels – 2v, 700mA, 4 wheels, 2 Axles and Axle collars, 1 motor – F18 with plastic mount, 2 large spur gears, 2 small pinion gears, 1 battery pack, a coloured corflute chassis and a toggle switch. To purchase a class set, contact Kite Magic 02 9045 1662 info@kitesite.com.au


 

Downloads

Solar Car Challenge Program 90 KB
This program provides students with the opportunity to investigate the principles behind electric vehicles and the importance of finding alternative energy sources to drive the transport industry. Students will develop an understanding of electric motors and investigate key concepts related to motion. Students will use the iSTEM process to develop a solution to the Solar Car Pursuit Challenge and integrate the use of technology to analyse aspects of their vehicle’s motion.
Solar Car Kit 197 KB
Details of the secondary Solar Car Kits for the SISP Mini Electric Vehicle Challenge. To purchase car kits, please contact Michael Richards from Kite Magic mobile 0411 357 894 email michael@kitesite.com.au
Pursuit Track
STEM Learning Activity: SISP Secondary Solar Car Challenge 232 KB
SISP Secondary Solar Car Challenge Pursuit Solar Car Rules and Regulations
STELR Solar Cars
STELR Solar car challenge booklet 2 MB
This 2019 API STELR Solar Car Challenge manual is designed for STELR schools participating in the API STELR Solar Car Challenge. This should be read in conjunction with the Solar Car Student Instructions supplied with each Solar Car Kit. An additional support PowerPoint presentation and two videos showing how to construct the car and change the gears are available on the STELR website at: https://stelr.org.au/stelrmodules/solar-cars/
STELR Booklet Mathematics of Gears
STELR Mathematics of gears workbook 3 MB
This student workbook has been designed to be part of the STELR Solar Car project. It's purpose is for students to determine the most efficient gear combinations to make the solar car: a. Go faster, b. Go up a steeper hill, or c. Pull with more power?
Gyroscopes and Accelerometers Notes 227 KB
This is a resource page on Gyroscopes and Accelerometers, sourced from the ME Program.
Contextualizing Mathematics and Automotive Education Electric Vehicles: Are They Worth Getting Charged Up About? 6 MB
Contextualizing Mathematics and Automotive Education Electric Vehicles Demonstration Curricula

Videos

Part 1: An introduction to the Solar Mini Electric Vehicle project developed for the SISP program.
Part 2 in the series developed for the SISP Solar Mini Electric Vehicle project which demonstrates how to attach the wheels and set up different gears.
Part 3 in the series developed for the SISP Solar Mini Electric Vehicle project, demonstrating how to wire the car up correctly.
Part 4 in the series developed for the SISP Solar Mini Electric Vehicle project, demonstrating how to construct the car
Part 5 in the series developed for the SISP Solar Mini Electric Vehicle project, demonstrating different variations and design ideas.
In this Video Michael from Kite Magic looks at some experiments and ways to improve your solar car.
Drawing tutorial of a basic solar car concept to help students visually communicate an engineered system. Solar car kits supplied by Kite Magic and competition run in conjunction with the NSW SISP Program.
This video was produced by Michael Richard (Kite Magic) to support the SISP Mini Electric Vehicle project. You will learn what makes up a circuit and how can we draw it, so we can communicate it with others.
This video was produced by Michael Richard (Kite Magic) to support the SISP Mini Electric Vehicle project. The resource will explain why a gear ratios are important and why we use it.
This video was produced by Michael Richard (Kite Magic) to support the SISP Mini Electric Vehicle project. A motor is found in kids toys and laser cutters, this video will explore how it works and what else we can use them for.
This video was produced by Michael Richard (Kite Magic) to support the SISP Mini Electric Vehicle project. You will explore what a multimeter will measure and how to use it.
This video was produced by Michael Richard (Kite Magic) to support the SISP Mini Electric Vehicle project. The resource will show you how to make a very simple DC Motor that will help you understand them better.
How to make simple continuity tester.
In this video the presenter talks about gyroscopic precession - the "wobbling" of a spinning top around its axis. It is a great video to show students to describe how Gyroscopes work.