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Test the same number of bands with a lighter chassis to separate band count from car mass.
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Science inquiry · Unit 7Inquiry 7
Energy in action
Fair tests, motion, and elastic redesign
How does stored elastic energy become motion — and what redesign improves distance?
Science inquiry · Unit 7
Energy in action
Fair tests, motion, and elastic redesign
Physical World · Energy
Wero
How does stored elastic energy become motion — and what redesign improves distance?
First step
Complete three fair runs on the dataset page, then draft a pattern claim.
What you will show
Study 1/2 baseline-quality evidence set with revision rationale.
Local place context
Name the energy transfer system you are testing (device, organism, or landscape feature).
Physical World · Energy
First step
Complete three fair runs on the dataset page, then draft a pattern claim.
Expected outcome
Study 1/2 baseline-quality evidence set with revision rationale.
You will design a simple elastic-band-powered car and test how one change at a time affects how far it travels. Which design variable — winding turns, wheel size, band length, or alignment — affects distance the most. Three runs per change, distance measured the same way each time.
Five ways you could investigate
Pick one to start — or write your own question. The AI mentor supports you gently inside your investigation.
Idea 1
Band length vs distance
How does elastic length relate to travel distance across ten fair runs?
Start with this question →Idea 2
Wheel size fair test
If only wheel diameter changes, what happens to consistency?
Start with this question →Idea 3
Friction and surface
Does a surface change alter distance more than power changes?
Start with this question →Idea 4
Winding turns pattern
Is there a point where more winding stops helping — and why?
Start with this question →Idea 5
Alignment and spread
Do crooked launches explain outliers in your dataset?
Start with this question →
Five things you could build
Fabrication ideas linked to makerspace tools — 3D print, laser cut, Arduino, data products, and more.
Build 1
Wheel spacer
Test whether alignment changes distance on the next run.
Open in outcome selector →Build 2
Test ramp
Laser-cut a repeatable slope for fair comparisons.
Open in outcome selector →Build 3
Fair-test protocol poster
Document exactly how classmates can reproduce your method.
Open in outcome selector →Build 4
Launch alignment jig
3D print a jig that fixes start position every run.
Open in outcome selector →Build 5
Run data infographic
Show median distance before and after your redesign.
Open in outcome selector →
AI mentor (inside your investigation)
No separate mentor page — support appears in your investigation workspace. It starts gentle: short prompts about your research context, data, and analysis. You or your teacher can turn assistance off for unassisted work, or request more help when you need it. It also guides fabrication choices tied to your evidence.
What other investigators found
Try this next
Measure the same car on two surfaces with identical elastic band setup before changing anything else.
What you will investigate
You will design a simple elastic-band-powered car and test how one change at a time affects how far it travels.
What you will collect
Date and time, Variable setting
What you might make or share
A printed wheel spacer, a small graph story