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<h1 align=center>EG1004 Lab 500: Stock Car Racer</h1>
<h1 align=center>Lab 500: Stock Car Racer</h1>


<h2>1 Objective</h2>
<h2>1 Objective</h2>
Line 8: Line 8:
Martinsville Speedway. As the names imply, the Daytona 500 is a very high speed
Martinsville Speedway. As the names imply, the Daytona 500 is a very high speed
race on a large track, while the DirecTV 500 is on a short track where the laps
race on a large track, while the DirecTV 500 is on a short track where the laps
are shorter, and there are many more of them. This shows a race car’s overall
are shorter, and there are many more of them. This shows a race car's overall
performance.</p>
performance.</p>


<h2>2 Overview</h2>
<h2>2 Overview</h2>


<p>NASCAR is the world’s premiere organization for stock car racing. There are
<p>NASCAR is the world's premiere organization for stock car racing. There are
several different kinds of automobile racing. For example, the Indy 500, run on
several different kinds of automobile racing. For example, the Indy 500, run on
Memorial Day weekend, has entries which are “Indy Cars�?, subject to a large set
Memorial Day weekend, has entries which are "Indy Cars", subject to a large set
of complicated rules. NASCAR races cars that look similar to the cars in
of complicated rules. NASCAR races cars that look similar to the cars in
showrooms. Originally NASCAR raced cars you could buy directly out of the
showrooms. Originally NASCAR raced cars you could buy directly out of the
dealer’s stock, hence the name stock cars. As times changed, the rules were
dealer's stock, hence the name stock cars. As times changed, the rules were
relaxed, so that now NASCAR cars have little resemblance to the ones we can buy.
relaxed, so that now NASCAR cars have little resemblance to the ones we can buy.
NASCAR is actually a very large organization that sponsors races locally, all
NASCAR is actually a very large organization that sponsors races locally, all
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average speeds are much slower, and accidents are much more common.</p>
average speeds are much slower, and accidents are much more common.</p>


<p>For all NASCAR races, there are 43 cars competing in the race. Since we’re
<p>For all NASCAR races, there are 43 cars competing in the race. Since we're
going to enter two races, there will be 86 competitors.</p>
going to enter two races, there will be 86 competitors.</p>


Line 47: Line 47:
Martinsville, a more maneuverable car is much more important. Real race teams
Martinsville, a more maneuverable car is much more important. Real race teams
have a number of cars, and use different cars for each race, customized to the
have a number of cars, and use different cars for each race, customized to the
characteristics of that race. As a new team, we don’t have the kind of financial
characteristics of that race. As a new team, we don't have the kind of financial
support those teams have, and can only afford one car.</p>
support those teams have, and can only afford one car.</p>


<p>This car will have two have balanced characteristics. It will have to do well
<p>This car will have two have balanced characteristics. It will have to do well
at both Daytona and Martinsville, but will also have to be cost effective since
at both Daytona and Martinsville, but will also have to be cost effective since
our team sponsors are thrifty. In order to achieve these goals, we’ll use a Car
our team sponsors are thrifty. In order to achieve these goals, we'll use a Car
Competition Ratio to determine which car has the best characteristics. The Car
Competition Ratio to determine which car has the best characteristics. The Car
Competition Ratio is defined as:</p>
Competition Ratio is defined as:</p>
Line 68: Line 68:
Competition Ratio will win the competition, and will have the usual
Competition Ratio will win the competition, and will have the usual
competition bonuses awarded, as described elsewhere in the online manual. Note
competition bonuses awarded, as described elsewhere in the online manual. Note
that if your car doesn’t finish, either due to a failure or an accident, your
that if your car doesn't finish, either due to a failure or an accident, your
finishing place will be poor (typically 30 or higher), and your ratio will not
finishing place will be poor (typically 30 or higher), and your ratio will not
be good.</p>
be good.</p>
Line 74: Line 74:
<h2>3 Your Assignment</h2>
<h2>3 Your Assignment</h2>


<p>PowerPoint Presentation (Team Presentation)</p>
<h3>Team Lab Report</h3>
 
<p><b>Note:</b> Since this lab is a competition, you will be writing a team lab report rather than an
individual one. See the [[Team Authoring Strategies]] page in the <i>Technical Communication</i> of
this online manual for guidance of how to do this.</p>
 
<p>You and your partner are to design a boom.
The boom is to be secured (i.e., anchored) to the white plastic
anchorage provided at the front of the lab.
The boom must extend at least 1.5 m from the front edge of the anchorage
and deflect as little as possible when loaded.</p>
 
<p>Follow the lab report guidelines laid out in the page called [[Specifications for Writing Your Lab Reports]]
in the <i>Technical Communication</i> section of this manual.
As you write, the following discussion points should be addressed in the appropriate
section of your lab report:</p>
 
<ul>
<li>Describe the rules of the competition in your introduction. What consequences did the rules have for
your design decisions?</li>
 
<li>What factors did you consider in designing your car? Did you use any of the
background information?</li>
 
<li>What was the competition ratio for your design?</li>
 
<li>What important design characteristics should a winning car include to achieve
the highest possible ratio?</li>
 
<li>Discuss design improvements. How would you optimize the design?</li>
</ul>
 
<h3>PowerPoint Presentation (Team Presentation)</h3>


<ul>
<ul>
Line 90: Line 122:
<li>Describe your car's design. Show the order of finish for each race to show how
<li>Describe your car's design. Show the order of finish for each race to show how
you placed. Make sure you include a discussion of the materials you chose and why.
you placed. Make sure you include a discussion of the materials you chose and why.
Explain your team’s strategy for winning the competition.</li>
Explain your team's strategy for winning the competition.</li>


<li>Describe how your design succeeded or failed. What choices could you have made to
<li>Describe how your design succeeded or failed. What choices could you have made to
Line 142: Line 174:
<li>Choose a member from your team to compete with some of the best drivers in the
<li>Choose a member from your team to compete with some of the best drivers in the
world for the qualification and the race itself. Note: Make sure their insurance
world for the qualification and the race itself. Note: Make sure their insurance
is paid up, and that the usual Poly student insurance may not be sufficient for this
is paid up, and that the usual NYU School of Engineering student insurance may not be sufficient for this
activity. Compete in the race.</li>
activity. Compete in the race.</li>


Line 159: Line 191:
and prepare to have the car put on display in the Front Lobby. Once the car is ready,
and prepare to have the car put on display in the Front Lobby. Once the car is ready,
clean up your lab position, as described above.</li>
clean up your lab position, as described above.</li>
</ul>
<h1>EG1004 Lab 1701: Faster-than-light Travel</h1>
<h2>1 Objective</h2>
<p>The experimental objective of this lab is to build a model that will travel
faster than the speed of light.</p>
<h2>2 Overview</h2>
<p>Traveling faster than the speed of light has been subject of science fiction
for centuries. The popularity of the “Star Trek�? series, originally broadcast
almost 40 years ago and still in syndication, plus a number of “spin-off�?
series, is proof of this.</p>
<p>Many people assumed that this was fantasy since Einstein’s general theory of
relativity predicted that objects that approach the speed of light become
increasing heavy, making it impossible to attain light speed, much less exceed
it. However, it was also known that some objects such as neutrinos, always
traveled greater than the speed of light. However, experiments seemed to show
that neutrinos were not able to travel less than the speed of light without
being destroyed, giving further evidence that somehow the speed of light could
not be crossed from either direction.</p>
<p>Fortunately, two technologies combined to solve this problem. First, it was
necessary to safely and quickly accelerate to extremely high velocities by
generating and directing massive amounts of energy quickly. This was attained by
using the now-familiar matter/antimatter containment vessel. Second, the space
warp was discovered to be a natural phenomenon. This effect was first noted in
extremely close proximity to black holes, making the phenomenon difficult to
observe from Earth, and without the technology needed to reach black holes,
there was no way to study them from nearby. The breakthrough came when Prof.
Zefram Cochrane of Polytechnic  University successfully created a small black
hole in his laboratory. It should be noted that this success came after several
failures where several Metrotech buildings were apparently “sucked�? into
nothingness, never to be seen again, forcing him to move to an abandoned Air
Force missile base in remote North Dakota.</p>
<p>Now, what has become trans-warp travel has become commonplace. However, this
is usually accomplished with large spacecraft with crews of over 1000 people. In
this lab we will “scale down�? the technology so that we can construct a small
model ship that will travel faster than light for a very short time.</p>
<p>The model will be much simpler than a real spacecraft. Also, in order for the
lab to be done in the allotted time, most of the model will already be
constructed for you, including a positronic guidance system that will allow the
craft to only fly in a straight line. All you will need to do is attach four
stabilizers (fins) to the fuselage, insert a cartridge containing liquid
hydrogen (matter) and pour in antimatter into its onboard containment, mount the
craft on a stand for launch, and activate the remote launch switch.</p>
<p>The craft will fly straight down Jay Street to the East River. It is
extremely important that the model craft be launched properly since the craft
will have to fly through the supports of the Manhattan  Bridge approach. At the
East River the craft will hit a barrier, causing it to lose substantial
velocity, and drop to sublight speed, where air friction will almost destroy it.
After penetrating the barrier, the remains of the craft will travel a short
distance further, and fall into the East River.</p>
<p>In order to verify that the craft did indeed exceed the speed of light, a
strobe light will flash when the craft launches. At the barrier, two atomic
clocks will run. They will indicate whether the flash of the strobe light or the
craft arrived first, and the difference in time. Because the difference in time
will be small, it will not be possible to accurately determine the speed of the
craft, but the clocks should clearly show that the craft arrived before the
light from the strobe light, showing that the craft was traveling fast then the
speed of light.</p>
<h2>3 Your Assignment</h2>
<h3>Individual Lab Report</h3>
<p>Follow the lab report guidelines laid out in the page called [[Specifications
for Writing Your Lab Reports]] in the <i>Technical Communication</i> section of
this manual. As you write, the following discussion points should be addressed
in the appropriate section of your lab report:</p>
<ul>
<li>Describe the problem you are solving in your introduction.</li>
<li>Describe, in general terms, how faster-than-light travel is possible</li>
<li>Describe some applications of faster-than-light travel</li>
<li>Describe how the matter/antimatter reaction occurs and its products (Note:
you will have to do some online research to answer this. Be sure to put your
findings in your own words to avoid plagiarism issues)</li>
<li>Did your model work? What happened? If it didn’t, why didn’t it?</li>
</ul>
<h3>Team PowerPoint Presentation</h3>
<p>Follow the presentation guidelines laid out in the page called [[EG1004 Lab
Presentation Format]] in the <i>Introduction to Technical Presentations</i>
section of this manual. When you are preparing your presentation, consider the
following points:</p>
<p>What are some of the more widely used applications of faster-than-light
travel today? </p>
<p>If you can look into the future, what do you think the future of space travel
will be? </p>
<h2>4 MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT</h2>
<ul>
<li>Spacecraft model</li>
<li>Tube of Super Glue®</li>
<li>Matter cartridge</li>
<li>Antimatter in a containment vessel</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Remember:</b> You are required to take notes. Experimental details are
easily forgotten unless written down. EG Standard Note Paper can be downloaded
and printed from the [EG website|http://eg.poly.edu/Note_Paper.zip].
Use your lab notes to write the
Procedure section of your lab report. At the end of each lab your TA will scan
your lab notes and upload them to the EG1004 course section on MyPoly. You must
attach your lab notes at the end of your lab report (use the &quot;Insert
Object&quot; command in MS Word after your Conclusion). Keeping careful notes is
an essential component of all scientific practice.</p>
<h2>5 PROCEDURE</h2>
<ol>
<li>Obtain your spacecraft model from your Lab TA. The model, without fuel, will
weigh 1KG. You will have to sign a receipt acknowledging that you received the
craft. All members of your team will have to sign the receipt.</li>
<li>Attach the control four control surfaces (fins)</li>
<li>Turn on the positronic control system using the <font color=red>red</font>
power switch. Have it do a Level 1 Diagnostic by pressing the
<font color=yellow>yellow</font> button next to the power switch. If a
<font color=green>green</font> light comes on, the control system is working.
In your lab notes, note the time at which the control system was turned on
since it has a limited battery life. Have your TA sign your lab notes, noting
that the control system is functioning properly</li>
<li>Go out the front door of the building to the curb of Jay Street. You will
see the “Roaming Lab TA�? there. This TA will give you the matter cartridge
containing 1KG of matter. Snap it into the model. Next, the TA will give you
the antimatter containment vessel.</li>
<li><b>CAREFULLY</b> pour some antimatter into your model. The containment vessel
will automatically pour out the proper dose of 1KG of antimatter (note: the amount
of antimatter must be exactly equal to the amount of matter for this reaction).
Put the stopper contained with the spacecraft model into the opening into which
you poured the antimatter.</li>
<li>Your model is now ready to launch. Give it to the TA, and the TA will mount it
on the launch stand in the middle of the street. Do not distract the TA during this
operation – it is critical that the launch stand be properly aligned down Jay
Street so that your model will fly between the supports of the Manhattan Bridge
and hit the barrier.</li>
<li>One of your team members should take the Poly shuttle to the barrier so that
one of you will see the launch and the other will see the end of the flight.</li>
<li>When the team member has arrived at the barrier, the TA there will radio back
to the launch site that they’re ready. The TA at the launch site will then press
the launch switch, sending the model on its way.</li>
<li>The team member at the barrier should note what happened when the model hit
the barrier, and anything else of interest.</li>
<li>The team member at the barrier should board the shuttle for the trip back to
the launch site to meet up with the rest of their team. The team should then meet
and discuss what happened so that everybody has a complete set of observations</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<p>Your lab work is now complete. Please clean up your workstation. Return all
unused materials to your TA. Refer to section 3 Your Assignment for the
instructions you need to prepare your lab report.</p>


<p>[[Main_Page | Return to Table of Contents]]</p>
<p>[[Main_Page | Return to Table of Contents]]</p>

Latest revision as of 03:37, 18 August 2022

Lab 500: Stock Car Racer

1 Objective

The experimental objective of this lab is to build a fully functional NASCAR Nextel Cup stock car racer. We will then enter this racer into two races: the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and the DirecTV 500 at Martinsville Speedway. As the names imply, the Daytona 500 is a very high speed race on a large track, while the DirecTV 500 is on a short track where the laps are shorter, and there are many more of them. This shows a race car's overall performance.

2 Overview

NASCAR is the world's premiere organization for stock car racing. There are several different kinds of automobile racing. For example, the Indy 500, run on Memorial Day weekend, has entries which are "Indy Cars", subject to a large set of complicated rules. NASCAR races cars that look similar to the cars in showrooms. Originally NASCAR raced cars you could buy directly out of the dealer's stock, hence the name stock cars. As times changed, the rules were relaxed, so that now NASCAR cars have little resemblance to the ones we can buy. NASCAR is actually a very large organization that sponsors races locally, all the way up to international races. At the very top, there are two major divisions: the Busch Grand National Division, and the Nextel Cup Division. The major difference between the two divisions is how much horsepower the car can have, with Nextel Cup cars having the most power (and also the higher speeds). In orde4 to handle the additional horsepower, other modifications are also allowed, such as a stronger suspension.

The Daytona 500 is, one of the most famous automobile races. It is usually run in February, and kicks off the NASCAR racing season, which runs until November. It typical draws crowds of 150,000 people or more from around the world. The Daytona track is large, approximately 2½  miles long,  and average speeds of over 180 miles an hour are not unusual. Unfortunately, given the high speeds and competitive nature of the drivers, accidents are not unusual either, so the overall average speed for a race is lower.

The Martinsville track is much different. It is only about ½ long, so there are a very large number of laps for the same distance, compared to Daytona. Also, the turns are much sharper and the roadbed is much narrower. As a result, average speeds are much slower, and accidents are much more common.

For all NASCAR races, there are 43 cars competing in the race. Since we're going to enter two races, there will be 86 competitors.

For Daytona a powerful car with good aerodynamic qualities is required. For Martinsville, a more maneuverable car is much more important. Real race teams have a number of cars, and use different cars for each race, customized to the characteristics of that race. As a new team, we don't have the kind of financial support those teams have, and can only afford one car.

This car will have two have balanced characteristics. It will have to do well at both Daytona and Martinsville, but will also have to be cost effective since our team sponsors are thrifty. In order to achieve these goals, we'll use a Car Competition Ratio to determine which car has the best characteristics. The Car Competition Ratio is defined as:

Lab500 1.gif

The cost will be calculated using the actual costs incurred in building the car, not including labor. The places are where you placed in each race. Note that with this formula, the higher the cost and the higher the finishing times, the lower your ratio will be.

Each team in the class will built a Nextel Cup car and enter it in these two races. Their race times will be recorded, their cost calculated, and the overall Car Competition Ratios will be calculated. The team with the highest Car Competition Ratio will win the competition, and will have the usual competition bonuses awarded, as described elsewhere in the online manual. Note that if your car doesn't finish, either due to a failure or an accident, your finishing place will be poor (typically 30 or higher), and your ratio will not be good.

3 Your Assignment

Team Lab Report

Note: Since this lab is a competition, you will be writing a team lab report rather than an individual one. See the Team Authoring Strategies page in the Technical Communication of this online manual for guidance of how to do this.

You and your partner are to design a boom. The boom is to be secured (i.e., anchored) to the white plastic anchorage provided at the front of the lab. The boom must extend at least 1.5 m from the front edge of the anchorage and deflect as little as possible when loaded.

Follow the lab report guidelines laid out in the page called Specifications for Writing Your Lab Reports in the Technical Communication section of this manual. As you write, the following discussion points should be addressed in the appropriate section of your lab report:

  • Describe the rules of the competition in your introduction. What consequences did the rules have for your design decisions?
  • What factors did you consider in designing your car? Did you use any of the background information?
  • What was the competition ratio for your design?
  • What important design characteristics should a winning car include to achieve the highest possible ratio?
  • Discuss design improvements. How would you optimize the design?

PowerPoint Presentation (Team Presentation)

  • Describe the rules of the competition in your introduction. What consequences did the rules have for your design decisions? Use the appropriate equations in your answer.
  • Since one term in the competition ratio is cost, present the cost of your car. Use the page How to Show Cost Data in Presentations for instructions on how to do this.
  • Discuss minimal design. Did you use all the materials you purchased? Describe the importance of minimal design and explain how you employed it in your design.
  • Describe your car's design. Show the order of finish for each race to show how you placed. Make sure you include a discussion of the materials you chose and why. Explain your team's strategy for winning the competition.
  • Describe how your design succeeded or failed. What choices could you have made to improve your final standing in the competition?
  • Discuss how you would improve the ratio.

Follow the presentation guidelines laid out in the page called EG1004 Lab Presentation Format in the Introduction to Technical Presentations section of this manual.

4 MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Due to financial constraints, you can use any materials you wish, but will have to buy them yourself. The University will not be providing any materials.

If you wish, you can persuade or coerce individuals or organizations to contribute to your team. Any criminal activity (e.g. extortion, threats, etc.) will not be tolerated, and will disqualify your team. It may also lead to a visit from NYPD or the FBI, followed by a long stay as a guest of one of these agencies.

5 COMPETITON RULES

Your car has to fit within the design constraints for a Nextel Cup racing car under NASCAR rules. You can visit the Web site http://www.nascar.com for a description of these rules. If you are disqualified by NASCAR for a rules violation, you will also be disqualified from the EG1004 competition.

All materials you buy must be included in the cost of the design, whether the material is used or not.

Note that for a NASCAR Nextel Cup race, your car will have to qualify for each race. Failure to qualify for either race will disqualify you from the EG1004 competition.

As outlined earlier, the car having the highest Car Competition Ratio will win the EG1004 competition for this lab.

6 PROCEDURE

  1. Read the NASCAR rules
  2. Design a car that follows the NASCAR rules
  3. Enter the car in the Daytona 500, to be held February 18, 2007.
  4. Choose a member from your team to compete with some of the best drivers in the world for the qualification and the race itself. Note: Make sure their insurance is paid up, and that the usual NYU School of Engineering student insurance may not be sufficient for this activity. Compete in the race.
  5. After the Daytona 500, repair any damage the car experienced and move to Martinsville.
  6. Enter the car in the DirecTV 500, to be held April 1, 2007.
  7. Choose a member of your team to be the car driver. Make sure once again their insurance is paid. Compete in the race.
  8. Calculate the Car Competition Ration based on your cost and finish positions. If your car did not come in first, your work is complete. Make sure your lab position is cleaned up, including any jacks, spare parts, grease, oil, etc.
  9. If you won the competition, repair any damage the car experienced in Martinsville and prepare to have the car put on display in the Front Lobby. Once the car is ready, clean up your lab position, as described above.

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