I would need to taper a dowel (or find an already tapered one), and use a conpower spring to pull a piece of spring, then, correct? In the line-drawing graphic, it shows that the chain winds around the outside of the barrel; would this be a problem for my vehicle? As long as I can find a...
Okay, I think I understand the clockwork mechanism, now, and how efficient it has the potential to be. My question now, is how does the wind-up spring turn the main gear? I was unable to find much of anything in my research to answer that question. Also, could you perhaps explain what you are...
Alright; then I am even more confused. I am simply trying to make a car that goes the longest amount of time; relatively simply. Would it just be better to go with gravity, and use one-way locking ball bearings (build my own) for each pulley system?
I don't exactly understand the clockwork: How it works, it's application, etc. The suggestion I made was based off of your tape-reference: Mount a horizontal row of tension springs (say, three inches apart from each other, laterally) on one end of the car; then, on the opposing side, mount...
Okay! (For purposes of the following explanation, it is assumed that the car has simply a front and back, no right or left) Could I not achieve the same effect by mounting a row of tension springs along the back of the car, and then, in similar pattern, arrange a row of springs along the front...
Unfortunately, we haven't covered torque yet. My understanding from engineering class is that torque is a force (external) that causes rotation around the center of mass of an object. How would that help me in this situation? Also, why does it matter that, theoretically, one axle would spin...
I think that an escapement would be a little challenging for me to build, unfortunately. haruspex, are you describing a system where, as the spool spins, it applies a pulling force on a tension spring, which, when fully expanded, would cause the vehicle to run the opposite direction? Would...
Thank you all very much for your help so far.
As far as "spinning out the wheels" is concerned, wouldn't my strategy of attaching a lengthy arm to the spring end help solve that problem? My physics teacher told my class that when such a situation is implemented, the spring's force actually...
The point of putting the springs in sequential order would be to extend the amount of time that a force is being applied to the vehicle's axle, thus causing my car to run longer. If I simply have them all release at the same moment, will not my car "run out of 'gas'" sooner? Top speed does not...
Hello all! I am a high school student who is taking my first physics class, Honors Physics. I have taken mechanical engineering classes prior to this class.
We have recently been assigned our major project of the year: The Dreaded (by some) Physics Car. Our goal is to design and build a...