Self Propelled Vehicles

Here's a car that's powered by the energy stored in the spring of a mousetrap (elastic potential energy).
Click here to download a movie of this car moving. (120K mpeg movie)
 

Here's a car powered by the gravitational potential energy that is released as the ball falls.
Click here to download a movie of this car moving and crashing.(120K mpeg movie)
 

Click here to see a streaming Quicktime movie of some teachers making and testing their own self-propelled vehicles. (You'll need the Quicktime plugin and a fast connection.)


© Appalachian State University
Science Education On-line
Dr. Leslie Bradbury and Mr. Jeff Goodman