CO2 Dragster Cars http://www.science-of-speed.com/showroomlist.asp

Purpose of CO2 Activity Learn engineering, aerodynamic design, and testing principles Understand how a CO2 car works Design your CO2 car Build your CO2 car Race your CO2 car

Overview • Intro to Racing CO2 cars • Student examples • Engineering Principles (Dragster Design PowerPoint) • Designing your CO2 Car • Manufacturing your CO2 Car Youtube link example for tools and techniques of manufacturing CO2 Car

CO2 Car Examples

Intro to Racing CO2 cars 2 Cars are set up Cars ride on guide wire from start of track to end of track Co2 cartridge is punctured –propelling car forward Two cars race Cars go through end gate light goes for fastest car Race time is recorded for each car

What do you use for the track? Many times when people are new to CO2 racing, they hear about cars running on a "track" and think that a track specially made for CO2 cars is needed to race them. Our track will be the hallway floor

CO2 Racetrack The only track required is 50# test fishing line. Fishing line is used as a guide line that the eye-hooks on the bottom of the cars attach to. The fishing line runs between the start gate and the finish gate We will likely run our races using only fishing line along the floor of the hallway. The smoother the surface, the faster the times will be.

length of the track The length of the track is also important. You need to have at least 60 feet without any obstructions. Any shorter distance than this, and the cars will destroy themselves upon finishing a race. The optimum track length is 66 feet (20 Meters), which is in scale with real dragstrip lengths of a quarter mile.

How fast are these things? Up to 60 mph (100 kmh)

What is CO2? Power is created by CO2 gas propulsion - CO2 gas is in the metal cartridges. CO2 is the chemical abbreviation for Carbon Dioxide. Not to be confused with the poisonous Carbon Monoxide (CO) , Carbon Dioxide is made up of two Oxygen atoms and one Carbon atom sharing electrons.

Engineering Principles The following Engineering Principles Relate to how and why a CO2 car works Newton’s Laws of Motion Mass Drag Friction More Details on CO2 Dragster Design PowerPoint

What's the best design for a CO2 car? Your Car must meet the size and dimensional requirements of TSA. The best design is the one that wins. There is no "one design" that is best. Generally, the two best indicators of a good car are clean aerodynamics and high craftsmanship. Often, really good designs that are built poorly will loose to so-so designs built well.

Designing your CO2 car Step 1: Work on Design Journal Understand & define Understanding the problem or purpose- trying to achieve the fastest speed and/or best appearance Take notes on CO2 Dragster Design ppt Use the CO2 dragster specification spreadsheet to document requirements Make quick sketches with dimensioning requirements making notes as to what design aspects you want to implement

Designing your CO2 car Step 2 Design forms worksheet Explore Define Prototype Brainstorming (think about what you want your car to look like) Look online at different designs http://www.science-of-speed.com/showroomlist.asp Sketch different possible design ideas Create detailed sketches in journal

Designing your CO2 car Step 3 Inventor prototype Complete technical drawing for CO2 car You must have a high quality, accurate drawing Drawing must be 1:1scale (actual size) Drawing must be dimensioned (all dimensions must be in millimeters (mm) – note: 10mm =1cm)

Designing your CO2 car Step 3 Inventor prototype Detailed assembly drawings similar to example project. Presentation video showing axle and wheels assembly with car. 2 “Blue print” drawings. One showing parts list and balloons and one showing detailed dimensions. Information tables should be personalized to your project. Final Solution rendered image and video from Inventor studio of finished dragster.

Designing your CO2 car Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Project falcon wind tunnel report -Images and data from the wind tunnel simulation Step 5 Refine if necessary Update Design Journal Step 6 Get instructor to look over your inventor applications, drawings, and design journal. You must get instructor approval before beginning to manufacture the car that you designed

Manufacturing your CO2 car Step 7 - Create a template Draw or trace the outline of your car on the graph paper. Attached it to the side and top of your basswood block - using clear or masking tape.

Manufacturing your CO2 car Step 8 - drill the holes for the axles (using the drill press). Make sure the axle holes are in the right spot and are straight The holes should be perpendicular to the center line of the car and parallel with the bottom surface of the car. * Take care to make sure these holes line up evenly and are drilled accurately. Crooked holes mean a slow car! Use a drill press and take your time! *

Manufacturing your CO2 car Step 9 - Using the Bandsaw, cut out your shape. When using the band saw to cut curves, you must use relief cuts (or you will break the band). Follow the shape that is on the template that is taped to your CO2 car. Youtube link example for tools and techniques of manufacturing CO2 Car

Manufacturing your CO2 car Step 10 – Shaping and Sanding Use a rasp or wood file ( you may also use the belt or spindle sander) for the initial sanding, in order to create desired roundness and curves Hand Sand your CO2 car until you have reached the desired shape Hand sand with fine sand paper to prepare the CO2 car for finishing.

Manufacturing your CO2 car Step 11 – Finishing Finish cars with wood stain, wood oil, varnish or spray paint. Allow to dry and finish sand between coats. Paint adds weight! Do not paint inside Co2 housing!!!!

Manufacturing your CO2 car Step 12 – assembly Assemble all the parts of the CO2 car Wheels Axels Body Eyelets CO2 cartridge

Manufacturing your CO2 car Step 13 – Measure and Test alignment on incline Complete Design Testing Handout

Manufacturing your CO2 car Step 14 – RACE and DOCUMENT RESULTS On Results handout and in design journal.

Manufacturing your CO2 car Step 15 – Bask in your glory! Complete design journal, Powerpoint, submit documentation and results to your personal web page