Thu, May 15 2008
| Breaking News: Dann bows to pressure, resigns May 14, 2008 06:20 pm |
|
|
Published March 09, 2008 10:53 pm - If the demonstration in the parking lot of State Road Elementary School was any indication, a practical solar powered automobile is long ways from reality. Sunshine the driving force for State Road projects Sixth-grade class studies alternative energy sources and puts them to use By CARL E. FEATHER - Lifestyle Editor - cfeather@starbeacon.com Star Beacon If the demonstration in the parking lot of State Road Elementary School was any indication, a practical solar powered automobile is long ways from reality.
Students in Patricia Thomas’ sixth-grade class built the buggies from a kit and put them to the test March 3. With the sun obscured by clouds, the time trials looked more like a lethargic frog jumping contest as students nudged and prodded the sluggish vehicles into action. And then the sun broke through. “Wow! My car is awesome,” cried Antoinette Jackson as the little electric motor, powered by a blue solar cell above, started rotating the gears that transferred the power to the buggy’s wheels. Students lined up their cars and held a race through the puddle-splattered lot. Some of the cars zipped along the blacktop, others coughed and stalled as gears fell off or wheels seized on the axles. All of them frozen when building’s shadow engulfed them. The electric cars are just one chapter in a study of alternative energy conducted by the sixth-grade class, says Kimberly Burgard, a teacher working with the class. The project was funded with a $500 grant from First Energy Corp. The grant funded the purchase solar- and propeller-powered car kits for each one of the 25 students. Prior to race day students were required to complete reading assignments about alternative energy, take vocabulary tests based upon those readings and design word puzzles. They also drew diagrams of energy flow in homes that use alternative energy sources. Burgard says students applied math skills by graphing the distances traveled and speed of their cars under different types of lighting conditions and on various running surfaces. Reading skills come into play, as well. Building the car required following printed directions. “That played a big part in making sure they did everything right,” Burgard says. “I did a lot of tweaking,” says student Ray Morrison. He made sure the axles moved freely and that the motor lined up exactly right so no power would be wasted. The challenge was to get the wires between the solar panel and motor to line up so he could install the cardboard frame on the chassis. Morrison says his experience with the car convinced him he would not want to own one. “They don’t go as fast and would probably take me an hour and a half to get there. It would be cool to drive one for fun, but not actually own one,” he says. Selena Bennett said she likes all kinds of cars, and the solar-powered ones are “really cool because they go by themselves.” 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Currents section
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
 |
|||
 |
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
© 2007, Ashtabula Star Beacon P.O. Box 2100, Ashtabula OH 44005-2100 (440) 998-2323, Send news tips and feedback |
Popular Business directory links - Ashtabula Apartments | Ashtabula Attorneys | Ashtabula Auto Dealers | Ashtabula Auto Parts | Ashtabula Auto Repair | Ashtabula Beauty Salons | Ashtabula Car Rental | Ashtabula Dentists | Ashtabula Doctors | Ashtabula Flowers | Ashtabula Hotels | Ashtabula Insurance | Ashtabula Loans | Ashtabula Mortgages | Ashtabula Movers | Ashtabula Pizza | Ashtabula Realtors | Ashtabula Restaurants | Ashtabula Storage | Ashtabula Tax Preparation | Ashtabula Travel | Ashtabula Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service 
|