Week 8 — Make the Car Move (SimLab)

Focus Concept: Using SimLab to test a simple car design
Mini-Project: Car Motion Test & Improvements

Connections to STEAM Learning

  • Computing: Using simulation to test a CAD design before making it.
  • Science: Observing how friction, slopes and collisions affect motion.
  • Design & Technology: Improving a prototype based on test results.
  • Maths: Comparing distances travelled and simple timing.
  • Engineering: Thinking about centre of mass and how smooth a design is.

This week participants load their car body into SimLab, add simple wheels or supports, and test how well it moves down a ramp or across a surface.

Objectives

  • Import or recreate the Week 7 car body in SimLab.
  • Build a simple scene where the car can move (e.g. ramp and ground).
  • Observe how design changes affect motion.

Success Criteria

  • I can set up a simple scene where my car moves.
  • I can describe what went wrong (e.g. tipping, getting stuck).
  • I can improve my design after testing.

Key Vocabulary

  • Simulation — using a computer model to see how something behaves.
  • Friction — the force that slows down motion when surfaces touch.
  • Centre of mass — a “balance point” that affects whether something tips.

Part A — Bring the Car into SimLab

  • Show how to open the car design in SimLab or build a simplified version there.
  • Add a ramp and a flat surface at the bottom.

Part B — Make: Car Motion Tests

  • Test the car on the ramp and watch what happens.
  • If the car tips or gets stuck, adjust shape, wheel position or ramp steepness.
  • Repeat tests, aiming to reach the bottom smoothly.

Part C — Extend & Share

  • Try a simple “distance challenge”: whose car travels furthest?
  • Ask: “What small change made the biggest difference to how your car moved?”

Resources

Equipment

  • Laptops / Chromebooks with internet
  • Mouse per device

Safety & Setup Notes

  • Encourage saving regularly in case simulations become messy and need resetting.
  • Keep scenes simple so simulations run smoothly and are easy to understand.