1. Put your car picture here
Junior Solar Sprints 2017
Progress Journal Template 2017
Put your Car Name here
Put your School Name here
Put your car picture
here

2. Feeling stuck? Email me for an example journal from previous years at
How to Use This Journal
Keeping a record of the design process is an important part of Junior Solar Sprints. This presentation is here to guide you along. Included are important investigations that will help your team understand the science behind your model solar car. All blue slides are explanation slides, no action needed. All yellow slides require responses.
You must fill in and answer
You can change the color, theme, font or anything that doesn’t change the content. You can add more investigations or any additional information, but that is optional. Anything in blue is an example.
To use this presentation go to “File” “Make a Copy...” and save that file to your own Google Drive or computer hard drive.
Feeling stuck? me for an example journal from previous years at
Anything in a white box

3. Our Car – include picture & name
School, Town, Grade(s)
Name of Car (we need this so we can score your journal)
To enter student choice, put a picture of your finished car on this slide. We will print out all pictures submitted and students can vote on race day for their favorite car!
Put a picture of your car here

4. Definition: Solar Power
A good definition explains a word by telling you what the word is, the class of object and its characteristics
Example: Water is a liquid made up of molecules of hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of 2 to 1.
What Class Characteristics
You try! Define Solar Power:
Solar Power is a form of _ _ _ _ _ _ made up of ____ and _____from the _ _ _.
Hint: the missing sections are hyperlinked to websites that contain clues.

5. Investigation: Solar Panels
Hypothesize on what things may affect how your solar panel works.
(The formula goes, If _____ then ____ .)
Idea 1
If my solar panel is inside, it will not generate electricity 2
Type your idea here 3

6. Investigation: Solar Panels
Choose one of your hypotheses to test. Design an experiment that will help decide if your hypothesis is true.
What we are testing: If electricity is generated by the solar panel if it’s inside.
How we are testing: Hook the solar panel up to a small motor with a wheel attached. While inside, see if the solar panel will generate electricity to cause the wheel that is attached to the motor to spin.
Type your design here:

7. Investigation: Solar Panels
Explain the results of your experiment:

8. Definition: Gear Ratio
A good definition explains a word by telling you what the word is, the class of object and its characteristics
Example: Comic books are publications consisting of illustrations, dialogue balloons, and often focus on super-powered heroes
Gear Ratio is the relationship between _________ parts that can be described in _______.
Driver
Follower

9. Investigation: Gear Ratio
Here are the gears included in your kit. To determine the size of each gear, count the “teeth” around the outside.
Why are there 2 of each size? What is the difference?
What are the sizes of gears in your kit, from largest to smallest?

10. Investigation: Gear Ratio
Hypothesize on how gears matter to your model car construction.
Example: (The formula goes, If _____ then ____ , because ___________) 1
If my model car’s gears don’t fit together my car won’t move because it’s the connection of gears that transfers motion/energy to move my car 2
Type your idea here 3

11. Investigation: Gear Ratio
Choose one of your hypotheses to test. Design an experiment that will help decide if your hypothesis is true.
Example: If my model car’s gears don’t fit together it won’t move
Type your design in this box

12. Investigation: Gear Ratio
Explain the results of your experiment:

13. Materials IMPORTANT - you have to use:
1 motor (from our provided kit, no modifications)
1 solar panel (Pitsco Ray Catcher model only)
1 soda can (to act as your passenger, must have tab attached)
We include all the pieces necessary to build a model car but you can use your creativity when it comes to the wheels, chassis, axles, motor mounts and race line attachment.
Use the chart on the following slide to assess your choices for the different components of your model car.
You need to use an empty SODA CAN. No other types accepted, none will be provivded on race day. You may share a can amongst your group

14. Investigation: Materials
Fill out the chart on the next slide.
Have a question? Click on the underlined words in the top row or in the first column for more information.

15. Part of Car
Material
Durable? (yes/no)
Was this piece recycled? (yes/no)
Can this piece be salvaged and reused? (yes/no)
Does this piece come from a renewable resource? (yes/no)
What is the weight of this piece? (in grams)
Chassis
Motor mount
Wheels
Axles
Race line attachment
Soda can compartment

16. Design Schematic
A good definition explains a word by telling you what the word is, the class of object and its characteristics
Example: the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy.
A schematic is a _______ , ____ , or _______ .
Use this space and the next slide to include any hand draw or digital images of your initial plans for you JSS car. You can use pictures too!

17. Design Schematic
Use this space to include any hand draw or digital images of your initial plans for you JSS car. You can use pictures too!

18. Battery Vs. Solar Be sure to test out your car with the solar panel.
You will need to attach the solar panel to your motor with the guide wires. If your car runs backwards, switch the wires around. If your car works on battery but not on solar, look for this – when you pick the car up do the wheels move but when you put it down the car doesn’t budge? This means you don’t have the right gear ratio. Try using a different combination of gears to get the car moving. It may take several tries, don’t get discouraged! Try, try, try again!

19. Prototypes and Testing
Use this space to explain any issues or problems you had to deal with when testing your model. Also discuss solutions to those problems. Include pictures or videos if possible.
Model Version
Did it work with the battery?
Did it work on just solar?
How We Tried to Fix It

20. Test your vehicle, make modifications and draw conclusions about the modifications you made. Use this chart to record your results.
Modifications Made to Our Car:
Trial #
Distance (cm)
Time (s)
Speed (cm/s)