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PlaN:• Do you want to build your cars indoors, outdoors or at camp?

• What do you know about solar energy? How does solar energy work? Where have you seen solar energy in action?

• Where will you race your cars? How will you build your race track?

• If there is no sun, do you have a backup light source?

• What will your race rules be? How many rounds will you have? Are changes allowed between rounds? Is there a size limit on the cars?

• Before the meeting, the Troop Leadership Team should investigate different designs and build a simple solar motor connection for demonstration.

• How will you form your groups of three or four?

Do:Design• Consider your solar cell, DC motor, gears and the other available materials.

How do they connect to build a car?

• Imagine your solar car and draw your design on graphing paper.

Build• Assemble your car!

• Test your car, making any changes you think will make it faster.

• Choose the fastest design for the race.

Race• Build a raceway, then race your cars!

MACKENZIE RIVEREnvironment & Outdoors

Solar Car

Canadianpath.caIt starts with Scouts.

The AdveNture:Construct and race the solar car of your dreams. Use solar cells, gears and a motor to design the most efficient solar car while exploring solar energy and the physics of motion.

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Review:• What do you know now that you did not know before?

• What problems did you have during construction?

• How did you work together to build your solar car?

• What changes in the design made the car go faster?

• Which cars went faster in the race? How were they different?

• What questions do you still have about solar cells and solar energy?

• How can you use what you learned today at camp? In the real world?

• What elements of STEM were in this adventure? Science? Technology? Engineering? Mathematics?

• What did you like about this adventure? What did you not like about the adventure?

• How would you do this adventure differently?

Materials:For Each Car• Solar cell (photovoltaic)• DC Motor • Gears (large and small)

• Wheels (You can use toy wheels or build your own using bottle caps, corks, etc.)

Tools • Wires • Electrical Tape• Scout Truck track or similar • Glue

• Tape• Scissors and/or safety knives• Solder and soldering iron• 120W lamp to replace sun if needed

For the structure of the car:• Styrofoam • Foam board • Balsa wood • Cardboard

• Straws • Thin metal rods • Bamboo skewers

ONliNe Resources: • Solar Activity: How to Build a Solar Car• How to Build a Solar Car 2.0• Buy solar car kits online • Solar Energy

Safety Tip:• Be cautious when using hot glue and safety knives. Have a first aid kit handy. • Wiring connections may require the use of hot soldering irons. Adult supervision

is required.

Canadianpath.caIt starts with Scouts.