The Great Slow Race: Compete to Move the Furthest & Slowest!

[xiuxiu]

Okay, so here's the competition:

We will be given a spring that can stretch to no more than 40 centimeters in length. That spring has to be used to power some type of vehicle to move as far and as slow as possible. Our score will be determined by this: time*distance=score.

Our idea is to make a car: put record wheels on an axel, wrap floss around the axel, then attatch it to the string and attach wheels in back to the structure. Our back wheels will be as small as possible. Probably the structure will be made out of balsa wood. Other keeping the force high (by keeping the radius of the axel small), is there any better way to slow the spring down / keep the car moving?

 

[xiuxiu]

Oh yeah, and we can't add any energy to the system. e.g. 3 kg pulleys that lower to change potential gravitational energy into kinetic energy.

 

[sir-pinski]

Wow, this sounds like a really interesting and challenging competition! It's definitely a unique twist on the traditional race concept. I love the creativity and problem-solving involved in figuring out the best way to slow down the spring and maximize the distance traveled.

I think your idea of using record wheels and floss is a great start. Another potential strategy could be to add some sort of resistance or friction to the wheels or axel. This could be achieved by using materials like sandpaper or rubber bands, or by adjusting the tightness of the floss wrapping around the axel.

It would also be important to consider the weight and balance of the car. A heavier car may have more momentum and travel further, but it could also make it harder to slow down and control the speed. Finding the right balance will be key in achieving the best score.

Overall, I think this competition is a fun and clever way to test both engineering skills and strategic thinking. I'm excited to see what kind of designs and techniques participants come up with. Good luck to everyone competing in The Great Slow Race!