Search

Contact

Donate

Solar Car Engineering Challenge

On the blacktop on a sunny day the picture looks down onto a kneeling woman setting a model solar car onto the pavement.
Learning Goals
  1. Describe how solar cars work
  2. Accurately record and measure data
  3. Use data to propose changes to experimental designs
  4. Research a topic
  5. Complete a full engineering assignment
  6. Explain pros/cons of various prototypes
  7. Work successfully within a group to accomplish a specific task
  8. Brainstorm various ideas for solar car design
Materials List

Handouts

Classroom Supplies

Important Links

Time: 8 40-60minute class periods

Students will build a solar car using instructions provided (Sol Run). They will take measurements of their car and then test to see how fast it can travel a 3m track. After students obtain their initial results they will research how to improve the car’s top speed and then design and build an improved model.

Download Lesson