The Photons’ Solar Car

Event Year: 2024
Event Location: Cocoa-FL
Competition: Junior Solar Sprint
Division: 7-8 (JSS Blue)
School: Orlando Gifted Academy
Team Name: The Gamma Rays
Project Name: The Photon
Team Size: 2

The Photon, from Orlando Gifted Academy, by Miles H. 7th grade, Clay W. 7th grade

List of Components

Junior Solar Sprint Deluxe Kit	39.99	New
Superglue x 4	4.99	New
Switches	4.99	New
Battery Pack	4.99	New
Alligator Clips 12pc	4.99	New
Balsa Wood Sticks	0	Reused
Plastic Wrap	0	Recycled
Balsa Sheet x 2	5.99	New
Bass Wood Sheet	3.50	New
Battery	0	Reused
Hot Glue Sticks	0	Reused
Crazy glue x 2	3.99	New
Crazy glue x 2	0	Reused

Photos

Overall Measurements

Our car is __ centimeters long, 13.75 centimeters wide, And __ centimeters tall.

Our front wheel’s diameter is 3.6 centimeters, and our back wheels 6.4 centimeters.

Our car’s weight is __ grams.

Our gear ratio is 12-58

Testing Results

Vehicle Test info	Test 1	Test 2	Test 3
Solar/Battery
Date and Time
Speed
Distance

Our Project’s Log

3/4

We finished off designing the overall shape of the frame of the car. 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/5

We worked on the design of the electronics. 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/6

Tested solar panel outside (3-4 volts on a good day). 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/7

We built the circuitry starting stage and started with building the frame. 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/8

We tried to connect the frame, but there was no super-glue and advanced circuitry. 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/12

Edited frame to fit solar panel better, taken off panel wrap. 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/14

Attached ping bong ball carriage to the frame, added wrapping on the bottom of the frame to attach mechanics. 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/25

Created a back for the car where the switches will be and attached the board and 1 switch. 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/26

Attached the other switch and side walls for the axle, see image one. 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/28

Attached a gear to the axle, 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/29

Connected front wheels, fine-tuned motor, stabilized wheel, and reversed motor direction (to forward).30 minutes, Miles and Clay

3/30

Sanded the wheels, permanently attached the solenoid motor, changed the gear ratio, and tested.2.5 hours, Clay

4/1

modified ping pong ball chassis, creating new left wheel. 30 minutes, clay and miles

4/2

sanded new wheel, temporarily added solar panel, and photos of car. 30 minutes, Miles and Clay

The only difference between screwing around and science is writing it down.

-Adam Savage, 2004