Mini Rubber-Band Car
Mini Rubber-Band Car https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW_09myuISA Days: 1 Mode: Individual Take-home: Rubber-band-powered car
Teaching & key ideas
Key concepts: Elastic energy, wheel/axle friction, alignment, gearing by axle diameter.
Hook: Wind a sample car and compare an aligned axle with a rubbing axle.
Test / evidence: Car travels a minimum set distance under rubber-band power.
Variables to change: Axle diameter; rubber-band wind count; wheel size; chassis mass.
Lesson flow
Lesson plan:
Day 1: Build → wind/release → alignment fixes → distance trials
Video:
How To Make a Mini Rubber Band Car
Safety / cleanup:
Use controlled floor lanes; rubber bands remain attached to car; safety glasses if tension is high.