On January 19, the Education Department of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum held our first-ever “Simeone Soda Bottle Grand Prix.” Almost 20 students of varied ages competed against the clock and one another to build the fastest Soda Bottle Rocket Car. Competitors fashioned their own individual rockets from soda bottles and various other materials including popsicle sticks, lead weights, and foam.
Our competitions were first briefed on the basic elements of aerodynamics, and were shown practical examples of how it related to their designs. Their designs were tested in our on-site wind tunnel to measure drag and their overall aerodynamic efficiency. Modifications and customizations were added and tested in preparation for the final event, time trials and one-on-one races.
Each competitor had the opportunity to measure their work as they raced one another down our 65-foot drag strip race track equipped with electronic scoring to the thousandth of a second. All students that took part were able to bring their creations home as a keepsake of the day.
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math. If you would like to learn more about that work, please contact our education department here.
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