Students will investigate a self-propelled-car phenomenon, develop an initial explanation of how forces affect motion, and begin an engineering portfolio for the open-house challenge.

Students will investigate acceleration, use controlled data to test Newton’s second law, and translate physics evidence into an approved self-propelled-car design brief.

Students will construct approved self-propelled-car designs during two build days, pass a safety and specifications gate, and conduct controlled baseline tests during two test days. Teams will collect repeated measurements, analyze forces and acceleration, and prepare portfolio evidence for the next phase’s sticky-note critique and revision cycle.

Students will critique prototype evidence, use sticky-note feedback to target a performance limitation, revise and retest their self-propelled cars, and complete engineering portfolios that connect quantitative evidence to Newton’s first and second laws.

Students will finalize and self-assess their engineering portfolios, rehearse evidence-based explanations, improve their presentations through peer feedback, and publicly demonstrate their revised self-propelled cars.