The Inter-Schools Dragster Competition

Dr Jos DarlingDepartment of Mechanical Engineering,

University of Bath

Objectives

• A design and build competition suitable for GCSE level school pupils to illustrate the following– Mass

– Energy

– Friction

– Acceleration

– Practical design and manufacture

– Experimentation

The Competition

• To design and build a spring propelled dragster to travel as quickly as possible down a 10m track using a ‘standard’ coil extension spring

• Competition was based on an undergraduate project run at Bath for the last ten years.

• The idea was originally developed as part of an Open University Summer School

The Kit of Parts

• Teams issued with a standard kit of parts which included the following– Standard extension coil spring– Back axle assembly– Fishing line

• Teams design and build their own chassis, back wheels and front axle

The kit of parts

Additional parts

• Dragster body• Balsa wood, Lego, carbon fibre fishing rod

• Driven Wheels• CDs, jam jar lids, Coke can bases, card, balsa

• Freewheeling wheels• Lego, Smarties tops, card, balsa, model aircraft

• Tyres• Rubber bands, glass paper, condoms, rubber

balloons

Competition Rules

• Only power source is standard spring extended by 100mm

• No catapults

• Timing from light beam at start and finish

• Track on Lino floor with plastic covered washing line resting on floor to act as guide

Typical Designs

• Rear Wheel drive

• Mass approximately 50 gramme

The competition

• Four local state schools involved• Nine teams of six students competed in

event• Mixed sex teams where possible• Used as teaching aide in pre-GSCE Design

and Technology• Students stayed after school in order to

complete designs

Timing and Organisation

• Held during Science Week

• Six undergraduate helpers

• Non-threatening university environment

• Local press and web publicity

The event

Results

• Seven teams successfully completed course

• Best time for 10m of 2.4 seconds

• 50 students participated

• Prizes– Easter Eggs– Certificates– Book Tokens for Schools

Prize winners

Funding

• £1000 pounds provided by Balance Project (thanks)

• Funding for– Kits– Administration– Travel for Schools– Pocket money for undergrad helpers– Prizes

Feedback and the Future

• Feedback from Schools very positive and complements from public following newspaper publicity

• To be repeated with increased number of schools through University Widening Access activities

Conclusions

• A practical design and build competition suitable for pre-GCSE school pupils

• Team work and practical engineering

• Non-threatening university environment