The Solar Car Rayses were held in West Branch and over 100 solar cars were raced. Two students from West Branch Middle School were the state champions and represented Iowa in the first National Solar Car Races held in August in Dallas, Texas. The Iowa representatives tied for third in the national races. In 1997, forty-five sites throughout the United States, including the Iowa Energy Center, collaborated in this event. This project has students working in teams of two.
Students receive a solar panel and a motor.
Students study the concepts of aerodynamics, friction, solar power, effects on our environment, decrease in pollution emissions, conservation, etc. Students determine the importance of aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, and the chassis' weight in designing and building a more efficient miniature solar car. This project allows students to employ the same process used by professional mechanical engineers when they design something new. Design relies on generating ideas. The students build a miniature solar car and test their ideas.