20389_Science_with_STEM_Year_5_Chemical_Sciences_Its_a_matter_of_state

STEM project
Chemical sciences
IT’S A MATTER OF STATE
Project brief
MODEL VEHICLE WITH AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL SOURCE
The problem
All over the world there are concerns about fuel
sources. There is a global push to change from
burning fossil fuels to renewable energy to lessen
the harm to the environment. In recent years,
scientists have been testing the efficiency of
burning waste material, including banana peels!
Can you believe it?
While most waste material is burnt to create fuel,
other reactions can also produce momentum to
power vehicles.
The task
Design and create a four-wheeled, plastic bottle vehicle which is powered
by combining one household solid and one household liquid, to produce a
gas. The combination will need to propel the vehicle along a straight course
for one metre. Before the final demonstration, you will need to present your
vehicle and its features to the class and explain the reasoning behind your
choice of ‘fuel’.
Things to consider
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• You must use a 600-mL plastic bottle for the base of the vehicle and the
vehicle must weigh 15 grams before the solid and liquid is added.
• The vehicle must travel a distance of one metre.
• The household solids and liquids available to create ‘fuel’ are: water, lemon
juice, vinegar, diet Coca-Cola ® , chalk, bicarbonate of soda, Mentos ® and
salt. You will need to test different combinations to see which works best.
• The presentation will need to include design plans, predictions of which
substances will cause the biggest reactions, results of trials and a description
of the final product, including the reasoning behind your choice of ‘fuel’.
70 Science:
A STEM APPROACH
YEAR
5
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