!Shawkin.ER!

thingiverse

The purpose of this vehicle is to travel a distance of 2.5 miles solely using a battery-powered motor and propeller, along with wheels. The mechanism behind its operation involves flipping a switch, which activates the propeller and converts chemical potential energy from the battery into electrical energy that flows through wires. As electricity circulates, wires heat up, and some of this energy is converted to thermal energy within the wires. This electrical energy is then transformed into mechanical kinetic energy as the motor spins its shaft, ultimately spinning the propeller. With every spin, the propeller gains kinetic energy, resulting in some mechanical energy being lost as it converts to this kinetic energy. As the propellers continue to spin, they push against the air, which exerts a force back on the propeller and the vehicle itself, creating thrust that propels the car forward. The motion generated by this thrust force imbues the car with mechanical kinetic energy. However, as it moves, drag forces act upon it, as well as friction between the wheels and the ground. These opposing forces cause some of the energy driving the car's movement (thrust) to be converted into thermal energy as air and ground temperatures rise slightly due to the drag and friction. The objective of this project was to measure these forces using various methods, then apply equations to calculate forces we were unable to directly measure. Following this process, we aimed to utilize our acquired knowledge to solve any set of numbers provided in a test scenario.