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Solar Vehicle Challenge

Solar Vehicle Challenge. SMILE High School Challenge Weekend 2013. A Few Facts about the Challenge. Based on National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Junior Solar Sprint competition - http:// www.nrel.gov/education/jss_hfc.html

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Solar Vehicle Challenge

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  1. Solar Vehicle Challenge SMILE High School Challenge Weekend 2013

  2. A Few Facts about the Challenge • Based on National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Junior Solar Sprint competition - http://www.nrel.gov/education/jss_hfc.html • NREL hosts car competitions that race solar-, hydrogen-, and battery-powered model vehicles • SMILE students are going to learn about solar!

  3. Future of Transportation • In the coming decades, transportation in the U.S. is expected to change radically in response to environmental constraints, fluctuating oil availability and economic factors.

  4. Future Decision-Makers • The transportation systems that emerge in the 21stcentury will be defined largely by the choices, skills and imaginations of today’s youth.

  5. Future Workforce • As scientists and engineers, they will develop new vehicle and fuel technologies. • As citizens, they will make decisions balancing mobility, environmental, and economic needs.

  6. Social Implications • Students are encouraged to consider the influence of transportation on social and economic patterns, energy use and the environment. • This is an excellent opportunity to combine the teaching of scientific and social principles in an atmosphere of fun and excitement.

  7. Overall Goals • To generate enthusiasm for STEM skills at a crucial stage in the development of young people. • To help improve students' understanding of scientific concepts and renewable energy technologies, and encourage young people to consider technical careers. • To stimulate creative thinking through a hands-on design project.

  8. Program Description • Students use mathematics and science principles together with their creativity in a fun, hands-on educational program • Using engineering principles, students get excited about generating ideas in a group and then building and modifying models based on these ideas • Students can see for themselves how changes in design are reflected in car performance

  9. Strategy • Challenges students to use scientific know-how, creative thinking, experimentation, and teamwork to design and build high-performance model solar vehicles.

  10. Concepts Taught • Alternative energy sources • Teamwork • How design effects function • Aerodynamics • Force • Motion • Problem solving

  11. Preparing for the Challenge: The “Pre-activities” • Structure – Chassis design • Aerodynamics – Frontal Area and Shape Design • Friction – Axle and Wheel Design • Transmission Design • Build a Working Car • Photovoltaics (Juice from Juice) – Build & Test • Photovoltaics – Power Generation

  12. Working in Groups • Most of the activities (and materials) are designed for students to work in groups of 4 • Cooperation involves skill and practice and is important in the professional engineering workplace • Working in a group is very often a positive experience for students who have less confidence with hands-on work if group members help one another • Having students share the search for and use of materials makes this portion less costly and intimidating

  13. Making groups • Option 1: Have students select • Option 2: Teachers designate based on students’ strengths

  14. Design Reviews as a Teaching Tool • When students build their car prototypes, have them practice explaining their designs at certain points during the design process (just like in the professional workplace) • Explaining it helps to solidify the knowledge. • Listening to one another helps students learn how to give constructive criticism

  15. Each student keeps a notebook • Throughout the duration of the pre-activities, each student should keep a notebook of concepts & ideas that will help them at the Challenge Weekend • Students will share in their groups key ideas from their notebooks at the Challenge

  16. Answering Questions & Stimulating Thinking • One of the goals is to stimulate students to think and formulate their own questions • The next step is to help students acquire the confidence to research their own answers • Students should be encouraged to ask questions

  17. Developing Individual Student Skills & Creativity • Think about ways to help individual students develop skills in areas which may not be their strengths • Encourage tentative students to speak up • Encourage louder students to relax and listen to what others have to say • Since creativity is a goal, allow them to be creative • Encourage students who are not used to working with their hands to experiment and MAKE MISTAKES

  18. Building the Prototype • Students, like engineers, will learn from their mistakes • We expect things to go wrong the first (few) times

  19. HAVE FUN • HIGH SCHOOL CHALLENGE WEEKEND – March 22-23 • We will try to plan a field trip to see Toray Plastics solar fields • Challenge Weekend Poster Display – Students will investigate one alternative energy technology that did not succeed in the market and why

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