ROCKET SCIENTISTS OF THE FUTURE (28/10/2009)
The Science Club was full once again as our young scientists battled to produce the best Mars Buggies.

The buggies had to compete in three hazardous environments:
the steep uphill slope
the cold frosty wastes of the flatlands and
the rough terrain of the mogul fields.

Full report from two of our space scientists.

Last Wednesday Science Club was given a challenge to build a Mars buggy for NASA. Pupils were put into teams where we had to use our imagination and initiative to build a good buggy. All buggies had to be capable of carrying a small volume of water over different terrains.

Each team was given a small budget to use in a \'component shop\' to purchase motors, fans, wheels, bodies and much more for their buggy. The aim was to improve the performance of their buggy. The teams were given free rein over the way that it moved forward; it just had to be able to move over the different grounds.

There was a huge variety in the different ways the buggies were powered - from fans to motors. All teams attempted the three different terrains, a flat out race along the floor, a steep hill climb and tough terrain of bubble wrap. All buggies performed well on each one.

At the end there were two winners: Sophie Graham & Charlotte Lochhead with their buggy succeeding on every terrain. Although there was only one winning team all participants enjoyed the task.
Michael Dean and Elliot Brady

Return to News Headlines >

Click to enlarge