CO2 Dragster design is the a fun and exciting activity that allows students to explore the design process, while learning the basic principals of aerodynamic design and Newton's Laws of Motion. Students start by brainstorming ideas through thumbnail sketches, then develop their ideas into hand sketched orthographic projections. Students then design a 3D model of their dragster using Autodesk Inventor technical design software, using an INVENTOR DRAGSTER TUTORIAL that Mrs. Crawford created. Throughout the process of creating a dragster, students must follow specific design requirements and utilize basic measuring skills. After actual hands on creation of their design, students test their car design in actual class racing competition. Finally the students complete a feedback writing assignment on the unit, and complete an assessment on the design principals learned throughout the unit.

Orthographic drawing

3D computer aided design model

CO2 Dragster

Engineering Principals
• Newton's Laws of Motion- acceleration is dependent upon the mass & force of the car.
• Mass - the lighter the car weighs, the faster the car will travel!
• Drag - the resistance of wind moving over an object.
• Friction - On a CO2 car, friction occurs primarily in three places:

– between the wheels and the ground,
– between the axles and the car body,
– between the eye-hook and the fish line track.

Design Requirements

*Total Length .......................................	200mm-305mm	*Distance surrounding front axle .....	5– 9mm
*Body height with wheels .................	Max = 75mm	*Distance surrounding back axle .....	5– 9mm
*Front body width at axles .................	30mm – 42mm	*Lowest point of chamber diameter to race surface (with wheels) ...........	30– 40mm
*Back body width at axles .................	35mm – 42mm	*Body Mass w/ wheels ......................	40g – 100g
*Minimum body width (All points other than axles) .............	13mm	Wheelbase (axle distance apart at farthest points) ....................................	105– 270mm
*Thickness around CO 2 cartridge....	3mm	Eye screw separation .........................	150– 270mm
*Axle distance from rear of car .........	9mm – 100mm
*Axle distance from front of car .........	9mm – 100mm

Types of CO2 Cars

	• Rail Cars- narrow "rail" that connects the front axle to the back of the car, typically use external wheels (wheels on the outside of the body), the body of the car is usually lower to the ground in the front and middle and then rises up abruptly to hold the CO2 cartridge.
	• Shell Cars- internal wheels, clean aerodynamic "bullet' shape, hollow underside "shell" body.
	• Show Cars- stunning design, high degree of creativity in the design, usually very intricate and delicate in their construction, very showy paint jobs with glass like finishes.
	• Normal Cars - Normal cars are built to race, may use characteristics of other car styles.