Background / Tutorial / FAQ

Background

Technical concepts include:
- Spring potential / kinetic energy (Hooke's law)

• The launching mechanism of our toy car utilizes spring energy and can be described through Hooke's law in the form F=-kx.  The spring is stretched from equilibrium in slingshot fashion, and depending on the stiffness of the spring, k, and length of extension, x, the car will speed along the track at a certain speed.

- Newton's Law (F = ma)

• The car, launched via spring, then crashes into a wall.  Depending on the force of the spring launch, the car will hit the wall with a certain amount of force.  The measure of the impact will then determine whether or not the dummy will be ejected from the driver's seat.  The car has a mass of about 0.25kg and an acceleration that is dependent on the spring launch.

- Latched, spring-loaded door mechanism

• A latch door mechanism keeps the seat of the driver in place.  When met with enough force, a button will release the spring-loaded door and launch the driver.  A 3D model of this mechanism can be found in the Weekly Progress - Week 5 section.

Tutorial (*incomplete*)

Instructions:

Setting up your car:

1.         Push flaps (inside car) down.

2.        Put the dummy through the roof of the car.

Setting up the track:

           

        Against a Wall       

1.                Connect the wall to the track.

2.              Place the car on the track and pull back the car along with the string and wood block.

3.              Let go of the car.

Head-on

1.                Align the width end of the two tracks.      

2.              Both players should place a car on each end of the track.

3.              Pull back the cars along with the string and wood block.

4.              Both players should let go of the cars at the same time.

FAQ

1. What is so unique or different about "Crash Course Factory" than other car toy products?

"Crash Course Factory" has interchangeable car parts that players can use to build their car in whatever way they want. Also, this is an educational toy instead of for pure destruction.

2. How is this toy educational?

This toy depicts the importance of wearing a seat belt while driving.

3. What is the goal that players will try to reach?
4. How does a player win or lose?