Car powered by can of tomato soup.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a project requiring a car to travel exactly two meters powered by a can of tomato soup. Participants explore various creative and humorous ideas for achieving this goal, considering both the can and its contents as potential power sources.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant humorously suggests using a hamster trained to eat tomato soup on a treadmill, noting the lack of specific information in the project requirements.
  • Another participant proposes using gear ratios to utilize the weight of the can, although they later reconsider the length of rope needed for the mechanism.
  • A participant suggests turning the can upside down to pour out the soup, using a watermill-type structure to propel the car, which is later affirmed as a sensible idea by another participant.
  • One idea involves dropping the can from a height to create friction that stops the car at the two-meter mark.
  • Several participants express confusion about whether the project involves a toy car or a full-size car, with some considering the challenge of using a full-size vehicle.
  • A suggestion is made to use a pump-action water gun to shoot tomato soup out the back of the car, likening it to a rocket propulsion system.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share a light-hearted approach to the problem, with multiple competing ideas presented. There is no consensus on a single solution, and the discussion remains open-ended with various humorous and creative suggestions.

Contextual Notes

Some ideas rely on assumptions about the mechanics of the proposed solutions, such as the effectiveness of using gear ratios or the feasibility of using a watermill structure. The discussion does not resolve these technical uncertainties.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in creative problem-solving, engineering concepts, or humorous takes on project challenges may find this discussion engaging.

ahrenstein
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Hey I am working on a project where I have to make a car travel EXACTLY two meters, no more and no less, and it has to be powered somehow by a can of tomato soup. You can
use the soup inside the can or just the can alone. Does anyone have any ideas or information that can help me? Thanks!
 
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I'd use a hamster trained to eat tomato soup running on a treadmill.

Sorry, it's an absurd question, but very amusing.

The problem is that 'powered somehow by a can of soup' doesn't give enough information.

Welcome to the forum, sorry I can't be of more help and thanks for a good laugh.
 
Just on top of my head. I am not an engineer yet. How about using gear ratios to take advantage of the weight of can of soup. Maybe using 2 meters of rope to move car 2 meters? Just a thought.


Added:

Now that I think about it, would need a lot longer rope due to ratio of gears.
 
Last edited:
what about turning the tomato soup upside down, open a tiny hole so it pours out, then use a watermill type structure to move the wheels with the force given by the pouring soup...if that makes any sense.
 
rusty009 said:
what about turning the tomato soup upside down, open a tiny hole so it pours out, then use a watermill type structure to move the wheels with the force given by the pouring soup...if that makes any sense.

That makes perfect sense. I think it is a better idea than what I had.
 
Secretblend said:
That makes perfect sense. I think it is a better idea than what I had.

Is that a sarcastic comment? lol
 
rusty009 said:
Is that a sarcastic comment? lol

LOL not at all! Sorry if it came out that way.
 
You could put the car on a 2m high table, tie the car to the can with some string, drop the can off the edge of the table, and create enough friction on the car's axles to stop it when the can touches the floor.
 
ahrenstein said:
Hey I am working on a project where I have to make a car travel EXACTLY two meters, no more and no less, and it has to be powered somehow by a can of tomato soup. You can
use the soup inside the can or just the can alone. Does anyone have any ideas or information that can help me? Thanks!

LOL. When I first read this, I thought it was a joke because I pictured a full-size car. But the OP must mean a toy car. Sheesh.
 
  • #10
berkeman said:
LOL. When I first read this, I thought it was a joke because I pictured a full-size car. But the OP must mean a toy car. Sheesh.

:rolleyes: I was thinking of full-size car also. Oh well. If it was me, I might still use full-size car for added challenge. :biggrin:
 
  • #11
Strangely enough, the very first post that I ever made on PF was similar to this one. My advice is the same now: if the rules don't prohibit it, just either build a wall at the 2-metre mark or tie a 2-metre string to the car that will stop it dead at that distance.
 
  • #12
Maybe you could mount a pump-action water gun to shoot tomato soup out the back of the car like a rocket.
 
  • #13
Crosson said:
Maybe you could mount a pump-action water gun to shoot tomato soup out the back of the car like a rocket.

I knew someone who did that on a frightening level. The diagnosis was 'irritable bowl syndrome'.
 

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