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Solar Panels 4:

Solar Car Efficiency

A 8th grade STEM lesson

Peggy Lord

11/2022

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Notes for teachers

I ordered kits from Flinn that made this a bit easier.There are ways to do this without the kits. These will be used many times.

I had students in groups of 2-4.

They have to create a drawing before they assembled them to save resources.

I put a meter of masking tape on a popsicle stick, and I cut the electrical tape.

Unit Lessons

List of Materials

masking tape
electrical tape
scissors
rulers
Flinn Solar car kits

Solar panels
motors
bottle tops for tires
cardboard
gears
straws
skewers for axles

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Standards

Math Standards:

8.SP.A.1-4 - Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data

8.F.A. 1-2 - Define, evaluate, and compare functions

Science Standard:

8.P4U1.3

Construct an explanation on how energy can be transferred from one energy store to another.

8.P4U2.5

Develop a solution to increase efficiency when transferring energy from one source to another.

Science and Engineering Practices

ask questions and define problems
develop and use models
plan and carry out investigations
analyze and interpret data
use mathematical and computational thinking
construct explanations and design solutions
engage in argument from evidence
obtain, evaluate and communicate information

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Objective(s):

Day 1-2:

Students will draw and build a solar car with the materials at hand.

Students will have their car travel 200cm distance and time the car to calculate speed.

Day 3-4

Students will change something on their car to increase the efficiency of the solar panel, thereby increasing the speed.

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Agenda (lesson time)

Day 1-2

Make a plan

Build car, test, then collect data

Day 3-4

Increase the efficiency of the solar panel car, test, then collect data.

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

What items would you need to make a model solar car?

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Have the students set up their notebook
After looking at supplies have the students do a planning sketch before building
Build car and test to see if it works

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Have the students collect data

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

What will you do to increase the efficiency of the solar panels to make your car faster?

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Students will need to set up their notebook page.
Students need to discuss what went well and badly with their car.
Students then are challenged to increase the efficiency of the Solar panel to make the car go faster. First with a sketch then building it, testing it, then collecting data to prove their claim. (Most students change the angle of the solar panel. Some change the shape of the car, or change wheels.)

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Students will need to complete the analysis questions, and have a discussion of the answers.
Have a class discussion of what went well and what angle was the best.

Analysis:

Was your final design faster then the original model? Use data.
If allowed to make other changes, and more materials were available. What else might be done to improve your cars performance?
Describe the types of energy involved and how energy is transferred in making the solar car run.

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Assessment

Check Students’ notebooks, and ask questions as you walk around

Did students increase the efficiency of the solar panels by changing the angle of the solar panel.

Did they complete the lab and show their data to prove their claim?

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Differentiation

They are working in a group of 2 -4 based on needs.

Some may need extra help with the gears and using the electrical tape between the solar panel and motor.

If needed I have printed instructions from the kit.

I also made my own example to help out students that need it.

If students do not know how to increase the efficiency I let them know the answer is in their notebook.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students can change another variable.

Students can have races.