Solar Car Challenge

This challenge is based on the National Junior Solar Sprint competitions that happen around the country. The goal is to design and build a vehicle that will complete a race in the shortest possible time using solar power. Teams can purchase a standard solar panel and a motor. You can use any materials you like to build a vehicle that will race on a 20-meter racecourse. Speed, design, choice of materials, and style are all factors to be considered. Vehicles will be raced and displayed during the conference.

The solar panel and motor are available from Pitsco (www.pitsco.com)
-Ray catcher solar panel (W21112)
-Motor 280 (W54428)

Some organizations in each state will provide these materials for free to schools that participate in the state events. In NC it is through NCSU’s Solar House. The Junior Solar Sprint is part of their Electric Vehicle Challenge program: http://www.evchallenge.org/schools/middleschool/index.html

Check out the National Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) Competition JSS rules and regulations for more details:
http://www.nrel.gov/education/rules_regulations.html

Solar Water Distiller Challenge

The challenge is to design and build a working model of a device that can turn muddy water into clean drinking water using the power of the sun.
Water source: One half cup of potting soil and two tablespoons of salt added to a gallon of water and mixed thoroughly.
The solar water distiller must use some or all of this water and see how much clean fresh water can be produced after about 4 hours in the sun.
The solar water distiller should be easily transportable and easy to set up. No limitations on materials and design. The distillers will be set up in the morning and then displayed and compared in the afternoon. Amount of water produced, ease of use, choice of materials, design, and style are all factors to consider.

Some websites that might get you started;
Dept of Energy Kid’s Page:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/classactivities/teachers&students.html
Technical University of Coahuila, Mexico solar distillation project:
http://www.appropedia.org/UTC_Solar_Distiller
Florida Solar Energy Center water teacher curriculum:
www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/education/k-12/curricula/use/documents/USE_6_SolarStill.pdf -