Need help making a small car from scratch.

JoPalm

Senior member
Dec 29, 2000
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I have to make a car for physics..a small toy like one that runs with one elastic band. I know how to do this already, hard part is i have to make the car drop a dollar coin on a target...that's where i'm stuck. I'm not allowed to touch it to make it drop, it has to do it on it's own, like a mechanism of some sort, and at the same time it can't really weigh the car down or the car won't go very far :disgust:. Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thx.
 

Hossenfeffer

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2000
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Could have the dollar spring loaded to snap down to the ground. Have the release tied to a fishing line that you've got in your hand. Once the car gets to the target, pull the string. (Crude, I know ;) )
 

loup garou

Lifer
Feb 17, 2000
35,132
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Wrap the coin in the elastic band. When band unwraps completely, the coin will drop...hopefully where you want it to. You can experiment with different lengths of elastic band to get the car to travel the correct distance. I'm assuming there are no obstructions between the elastic band and the target/floor. I imagine there are a ton more ways to do this, but this is probably the simplest.
 

JoPalm

Senior member
Dec 29, 2000
843
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it's kinda hard wrapping a circular object to an elastic i think :p. I thought of that already. The fishing line is a funny idea but that wouldn't pass, lol.
 

thelanx

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2000
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Can the car stop, them drop the coin? If yes, put a braking system on the car so it stops right over the target. Then have another mechanism set that will drop the coin after the car stops, maybe the "wrap the coin in he rubber band" idea.
 

JoPalm

Senior member
Dec 29, 2000
843
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No the car goes has to drop the coin in the middle of the course. We have to make the car go 8 metres i think it is and it drops it somewhere in the middle, so like it drops it before stopping.
 

lepper boy

Golden Member
Nov 2, 1999
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Here's a long shot.... through the car have a hole just the size of the coin.. so the coin can lay flat down. Then. have a little thin piece of metal or some object that is just wide enough to balance the coin and hold it up... then tie the little pice of metal or whatever it is. to a ligh fishing line.... 1 or 2lb test.. it's real thin..... then somehow you have it measured and it wraps aroundone of the axles and when it hits the end it pulls the trip and lets the coin out the bottom of the car... only problem is how to have the car keep going with the trip still attached................

dave
 

JoPalm

Senior member
Dec 29, 2000
843
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hey that's a good idea! I'll take that into consideration, thx lepper.

Any more thoughts on this?