Car Launcher

Sam and Sara are having a fantastic time racing down the hill with their super fast car. The steep hill behind their house makes a great ramp and it is a lot of fun racing down the hill and feeling the excitement in their tummies.
Once the car has stopped, it’s hard work pushing the car back up to the top again. Sara believes there must be an easier way of getting the car up the hill than all this hard pushing. Sam would like it if he could just launch Sara and the car up the hill. That would be super!

Can you help Sam and Sara build a launcher that can launch the car back up the hill?
Let’s find out!

Build the car and launcher using building instructions no. 5.

Make sure the wheels spin smoothly and do not rub on the sides of the car.

Make Your Test Hill

• Place the plank on some books so one end is 8 in higher than the floor
• Place the launcher and hold it at the bottom of the ramp

Idea:
You could use sticky tape to hold the launcher in place.

Far or further?
Using the two launchers you will be able to send the car back up the ramp.
Find out which will send the car further.

First predict which of the launchers will send the car far up the ramp and which will send the car further up the ramp?
Write down your predictions using the words on the worksheet.

Next, test how far you can launch the car using first the small and then the big launcher.
Write down your findings using the words on the worksheet.

The longer axle of the big launcher means more time to get speed and energy into the launch. More energy means more distance.

Have the students reflect on their tests by asking questions such as:

• What did you predict would happen and why?

• Describe what happened.

• How did you make sure your tests were fair?
  Were your pushes equal in force? Did you launch from the same spot every time?

• Describe how the model works.

Tip:
Use a ruler for standard measuring of the distance the car travels.

How close?
Make a game to see who can launch their cars closest to a wall without the cars actually hitting the wall.

The closer to the wall your car stops the more points you get!
Note your scores on the worksheet.

How can you make the game fair?
All cars are launched from the same starting position.
Everyone gets three turns.
Add up the scores after three turns, etc.