The Racecar Book: Build and Race Mousetrap Cars, Dragsters, Tri-Can Haulers & More

by Bobby Mercer (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

You may not be old enough to drive, but that doesn't mean you can't satisfy your need for speed.

Author and physics teacher Bobby Mercer shows how to use mousetraps, rubber bands, chemical reactions, gravity, and air pressure to power fast-moving vehicles. Each of the 25 easy-to-build racecars is constructed for little or no cost using recycled and repurposed materials. Retrofit a toy car with a model plane propeller to make an air-powered Prop Car. Turn a potato chip can, a rubber band, and weights into a Chip-Can Dancer. Or use an effervescent tablet in a small canister as an impressive rocket engine for a Mini Pop Car. Every project in The Racecar Book contains a materials list and detailed step-by-step instructions with photos for easy assembly.

Mercer also includes explanations of the science behind each racecar, including concepts such as friction, Newton's laws of motion, kinetic and potential energy, and more. These projects are perfect for science fairs or design competitions, or just having fun!

Select format:
Paperback
$14.95

Review quotes

Edible racers would be a smash hit at learning co-ops classes, science competitions and birthday parties. Who will win the main event: Chocolate Thunder, Spud Racer, Mallow Magic, Bun Fun, or Rice Car? Start your engines! —Practical Homeschooling

Bobby Mercer
Bobby Mercer has been a high school physics teacher for more than two decades. He is the author of The Flying Machine Book and Smash It! Crash It! Launch It!
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781613747148
Lexile Measure
880
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Chicago Review Press
Publication date
October 01, 2013
Series
Science in Motion
BISAC categories
JNF051110 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Experiments & Projects
JNF015000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Crafts & Hobbies | General
Library of Congress categories
Models
Automobiles, Racing
Model car racing

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