physics, best toy car...

@KiblyKat (187)
Singapore
January 18, 2011 7:10am CST
how do you make a toy car travel the furthest distance when released on a ramp
1 person likes this
1 response
• Malaysia
18 Jan 11
Weight - Depends on your ramp distance and angle, you want your toy car to launched at its highest speed before the ramp runs off. You can adjust your weight to meet this, typically the heavier the better, since inertia is resistance to movement. Aerodynamic - Get your car in a nice and aerodynamic shape, like a normal car will do. Wheels - Don't get cheap wheels, you don't want them to wobble while moving, since alignments and tolerance is important to keep the car on course and absorbing the uneven surface, as well as minimize friction as much as possible on your set of wheels to the shaft that is holding your wheels. Lubricating them would be a great idea to eliminate these frictions. Hope these helps, good luck and happy mylotting
@KiblyKat (187)
• Singapore
19 Jan 11
haha thanks, but wheels are provided by my physics teacher, so only weight of more lego blocks can be placed on top. but doesnt weight add friction as the toy car is going down? so is there an optimum amount of weight that the toy car should be? i know if a car is too heavy, it cant go far, neither if it is too light. so what is the formula or however u derive that optimum weight?
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
19 Jan 11
You can't actually unless you use a fluent simulation software lol. It really narrows down to what kind of ramp are you using. If you are using lego block, try use less block (reduce drag) and put some lead inside the empty spaces in the lego block to increase weight lol. Not sure if that is allowed =p
@KiblyKat (187)
• Singapore
19 Jan 11
haha, part of the rules is that 'you have to use the materials given' but u can add ur own stuff too... if not there is no fun. so maybe a streamlined body would be helpful too, and weight? cant be that heavy nor too light
1 person likes this