The CO2 Car

     Our major Fourth Quarter project is the CO2 Car.  Students design, build, and race their own dragsters while learning first-hand how compressed-gas propulsion works.  Students participate in each phase of the manufacturing process and study principles of physics in determining why fast cars are fast.
     During this project, students learn about several important physical principles such as aerodynamics, friction, and drag.  We discuss motion as a result of unequal pressures trying to equalize themselves.  Students learn about specifications and how spec sheets are used to adapt brainstorms into specific applications.  Students are able to compare a two-axle vehicle's features and performance to those of a single-axle vehicle such as The Push Duck.  In addition, this project moves our study of measurement from 2-D to 3-D and expands our materials study to include pre-fabricated items.
     During Race Week, my role becomes that of Track Official.  There are many last-minute adjustments, and although we catch most spec and safety violations early enough to fix them, occasionally I must DQ a car at final inspection.  Races are double elimination, and every section produces a Class Champion who is invited back to a final showdown for the Grand Champion Of The Entire Eighth Grade.  An independent judge selects a Best Design Award and a Best Craftsmanship Award from each class, and at the end students vote for the winner of an informal Best Wreck Award.
     Grades for the Fourth Quarter are the average of a student's project score and race score, which is an amount of points attached to each round.  For instance, every student who races will recieve a certain amount of points; half of these will advance to the second bracket and earn more, and more yet for those advancing to the third bracket.
     This is perhaps my favorite Tech Ed project.  Students witness how good design, craftsmanship, and attention to detail work together to make a really fast car.  It is challenging in many ways, and everybody involved generally has a lot of fun.
             -Mr. Reifler

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