Notes+from+Meeting+at+ANL

On Monday, January 17, Mrs. Jankowski attended a coaches meeting at Argonne National Laboratory.

Notes: Fuel Cell
 * Must use ionized or distilled water; fill syringe and squirt out air bubbles
 * Fill from the red side (oxygen side) till water come out of the top; cap with the red plug
 * Do not want too much pressure in the membrane; do not leave the syringe attached or it may shoot out due to the building pressure
 * Recommend using a switch
 * Fill the first time, purge, fill a second time; then see if it goes!

Quite a few new schools at the meeting, however, returning champs with experience: Jerling Junior High and Altgeld (Chicago Public Schools). Homer 33C will be competing, too.

Design document required at competition (2 copies)

Gears
 * Small gear to bigger gear increases torque (little gear turns faster than bigger gear)
 * Connect motor to small gear; small gear to large gear; large gear to large wheel (could be close to same size)
 * Gear up -- smaller gear to bigger gear
 * Gear down -- bigger gear to smaller gear
 * Wheels need to be bigger than axle gear
 * ideas -- rubber bands on wheels (which Mike already thought of!!)

To determine if your gears are working efficiently, measure time first 1/2 half and compare time to the second 1/2 half.

Non-Gearing factors
 * use hot glue or strap tape (no crazy glue) but should not rub axle
 * nylon spacers should not be rubbing on wheels
 * low friction

External friction
 * air resistance of the body
 * wheels contacting the ground
 * guideline rubbing on eyelets -- tracking

HUGE -- the straighter it goes, the less friction Guide line will be 80 lb fishing line approximately 1 cm. off the ground Eyelet in front and back? Make sure they eyelets are pulled open to get the wire on easily. The more solid your car is, the straighter it will be.

F=M*A Keep your weight low Acceleration and Mass inversely related

Location still be be determined Cars will run on some type of neospyrene? mats.

Check out pictures of solar cars: http://www.solarsprint.com/building-the-solar-car/