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Hi all -

I think the model cars at Science City worked great, and I'd be happy to
expand on Jeff's description of how we fabricated them - they were not
usable on the exhibit floor directly out of the box - if anybody's
interested.  I could probably unearth some photos of the process we used.

A nice perk of the model cars is that we could order various recognizable
makes/models at a consistent scale (I think we used 1:18) for direct
comparison: Hummer vs VW Bug vs Corvette, etc.  I'm sure a Prius would be
available now as well.

Two thoughts I'll add:

- the models were fairly expensive to replace on a regular basis, so we
intentionally made them look less attractive and hence less likely to walk
away.  Grey primer coat painted over the unsanded hardcoat made them look
very plain, with the added benefit that they definitely called to mind
prototype clay models.   Also, keeping them all the same color forced the
user to focus on the differences in shape over cosmetic appearance.

- our wind tunnel at Science City was set up so that the air blew the model
cars and made them move, versus being set up so that the visitor moved the
cars into the wind.  This had what I thought was an unfortunate effect:  the
more wind-resistant, less efficient models moved FURTHER than the more
efficient models.  (The air passed more readily over the Corvette without
moving it than over the Hummer.) I thought that a visitor would have to
think pretty hard to make the connection that the car moving further would
be the one that was less fuel efficient.  Also, the effect of the mass of
the vehicle on the distance it moved was the opposite of the effect of the
aerodynamics of its shape.  (The Hummer would have moved even further had it
been the same shape but lighter).  

If I were designing this exhibit from scratch, I think it would be far
stronger to have the visitor place the model in the same chamber, but then
have to work via a hand crank or other mechanism to move the vehicle into
the airflow.

That way, there would be a direct positive correlation between the energy
needed to move the vehicle and its wind resistance - the message we were
trying to convey.   Plus, the lesson would be felt kinesthetically, not just
visually.

Just my $0.02.

Cricket Brooks





On 6/19/09 9:24 AM, "Jeff Rosenblatt" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
>
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*
> 
> We use model cars (various sizes and models available), to illustrate
> aerodynamics and eco-friendly car shapes/sizes.  Then we glued the model
> cars to a flat wood stand, and then dip/paint the entire model in a
> thick poly coat.  All this has made for a sturdy model in a wind tunnel.
> After the poly dried, we went ahead and spray painted different cars
> different colors, and the paint doesn't wear off much at all for us.  If
> this is a big concern about the paint, use a primer spray coat first.
> We might have to touch up the paint about once every year or two.
> 
> --Jeff--
> 
> Jeff Rosenblatt
> Director of Science City
> Union Station
> ph:  816-460-2218
> email:  [log in to unmask]
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anna Grace at
> Explorit
> Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 4:50 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Wind tunnel shapes
> 
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> ************************************************************************
> *****
> 
> I hope someone can help.
> 
> We have a small wind tunnel with shapes that fit on a sled in the
> test section.  We have used styrofoam for the shapes, but they don't
> last very long.  We tried coating the styrofoam with foam coat, which
> helped extend their life, but they are still getting really beat up.
> I was wondering if anyone else has a similar exhibit or any
> suggestion on what material we can use for durable, lightweight
> shapes.  Does balsa wood hold up?
> 
> Thanks,
> Anna
> 
> Anna Grace
> Exhibit Coordinator
> [log in to unmask]
> 
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