Wind-Powered Car

Can you create a drag-racer that is powered only by your breath?

In this project, you will be creating a personalized drag-racing car that is powered by your own breath. The design you car will have is based on what you think will work and can be anything! Can you make your car the fastest?

Materials

These are only recommended of the steps

1 pack of straws (at least 10 straws)

1 pack of lifesaver mints (you only need 3)

Paper (Card stock paper or any kind of thicker paper preferred)

Tape (Masking tape preferred)

Steps

1. Use one straw for one side of the car

2. Cut the bendy part of two different straws and stick them onto the ends of the long straw you are using for the side of the car

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the other side of the car

4. Take a new straw and cut two inches of the middle of the straw out, put 1 lifesaver mint in between the straw, and use it to connect one of the ends of both sides of the car together

5. Take a new straw and cut 4 inches of the middle of the straw out, put two lifesaver mints at the ends of the straw, and use it to connect one of the ends of both sides of the car together

6. Use masking tape and roll it around each of the wheels so they can’t slide around when they are moving

7. You will now create a totally custom design by yourself (or with help) that you can blow into to allow the car to move forward

Conclusion

Sample Drag-racer:

Explanation/Summary

This car works just like a parachute, but instead of you falling and the parachute “catching” the air, the car “catches” the air you blow into it so it can move. By making a car like this, you are essentially making a sail that can turn the wheels on the car so that it can move on solid ground (instead of the water). By blowing faster, the car will also go faster because the more air hits the car every second you keep on blowing.

Game

Get all your friends to make their own car with their own creative design. Line them all up at a starting line and blow into them at the exact same time. Keep on blowing into the car until one of them ends up at the finish line. Can you win?