You’ve seen them in the movies and you’ve wondered what makes Co2 cars so fast, right?  Well, the answer is Carbon Dioxide.  Co2 cars contain a cartridge of Carbon Dioxide that gives them their incredible speed and acceleration.  Carbon Dioxide is found in the atmosphere as a colorless gas and is the secret behind these cars and their phenomenal speeds. In fact, Co2 cars are so incredible, that many educators choose to use them as the basis for teaching many physics principles. 

Calculations may be performed to determine speed, but for many students, the best part of studying Co2 cars is by racing them.  Along with the competition factor, many teachers use the building process to expound upon many important principles.  Engineering, Physics, and Mathematics are all used constructively when someone chooses to build a Co2 car.

It’s important to choose your design carefully and pick a design that has been shown to increase the speed of your Co2 car. There are a number of different designs that you can choose from before building your car.  By mastering the design you can increase the speed of your car.  There is no doubt that creating these cars and then racing them is one of the most popular scientific experiments that can be carried out in the junior high environment.

A science teacher could utilize a unit plan focusing on Carbon Dioxide cartridges and their powerful effects on cars for one-two months.  The principles behind the design of the car will help children explore many areas of learning and can prove to be a successful way to keep children on track with their educational studies that may be in danger of academic failure.  From fashioning the body of the car, to the final coat of paint and creating the racetrack all children will find an aspect of these lessons exciting.  Whether you are a teacher, student, or racecar driver, all people find the power and force of Carbon Dioxide cars exciting and exhilarating.