Introduction
Art entails creativity and coming up things that tell people about their culture, beliefs, politics, and economy, while engineering is a scientific field that deals with coming up with problem-solving equipment and tools that can make human activities easier (Mahajan, 2014). Like arts, engineering is also about creativity and applying the natural laws in making things that can help steer forward change in the society. In this project study, I used the simplest materials I could get to make a model toy car using waste materials that I could find within my neighborhood (Hadnagy, 2011). While making this model toy car, in was integrating artistic skills and engineering knowledge. While making this model toy car, I used recycled plastics and metal cans with a string that can have potential and kinetic energy.
My project is about constructing a toy car by making use of recycled plastics and metal cans. In this project the major materials I require include a rectangular metal can, four plastic caps, two plastic rods from used pens, a nail and a sharp knife. The major reason why I choose this metal can and the plastic axles and caps is because these materials are readily available and hence no cost will be incurred at all (Bardiot, & Morris, 2016). Another factor which made me to choose this project is because the steps which are involved in constructing the toy are very easy to follow and hence will be able to meet the deadline. The first step is to wash the materials which will be used by using hot soapy water and disinfectant so as to get rid of any harmful bacteria which might be present. Then by use of a big nail which is the size of a standard pen I will make holes at strategic points which will be used to put the axles. In the case of axles the used up plastic pens casings will be used.
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Then I will place the axles into the holes made on the plastic container. The axles will be placed in such a way that they penetrate through the holes on one side and then protrude through the holes on the opposite sides of the container. Then I will drill holes into the four plastic caps which will act as wheels. The bottle caps will be fixed on the axles by sliding then up to the appropriate position. Using a sharp knife I will make rectangular openings on the sides of the metal can and this will act as windows. On the front side I will make a rectangular opening which will act as a windshield. Other enhancements can be added depending on the taste and preferences of the user, such as fixing a lengthy string in the front part of the toy car to be used for pulling it.
Summary of the procedure
1. By use of a 4 inch nail holes are made on the sides of the metallic container.
2. Then the plastic waste pens are put through the holes to act as the axles.
3. Holes are drilled into the plastic caps which will act as wheels.
4. The drilled plastic caps are placed on the axles into the appropriate positions.
5. Rectangular openings are made on the sides and fronts of the metallic container to act as windows and windshield respectively.
6. Finally a string is fastened on the front part to be used to pull the toy car.
Application of Engineering Knowledge
This model toy car had plastic bottle tops as wheel to reduce resistance while polling or pushing. It would be tedious to move the toy freely on rough surface is the friction between its body and the surface was not reduced. Therefore, to reduce the friction, I used plastic bottle tops as my wheels to reduce the friction between the rough places and the car.
The axles on the other hand were used to allow the free movement of the plastic bottle tops. These were an imitation of the bearings in a bicycle wheels (Morrison, 2014). If the wheels were so tight, they would not move freely; therefore, they were necessary to allow free movement of the wheels. The string was used in the place of a gear and engine in a real car. By pulling it forward, one changes the energy of the toy from static to kinetic (Berger, 2015).
- Bardiot, C., & Morris, C. (2016). 9 evenings reconsidered: Art, theatre, and engineering, 1966 ; [catalogue accompanies the exhibition “9 Evenings Reconsidered: Art, Theatre, and Engineering, 1966”, held at the MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge, MA, May 4 – July 9, 2006]. Cambridge, Mass: MIT List Visual Arts Center.
- Berger, H. (2015). Light structures, structures of light: The art and engineering of tensile architecture. Bloomington, Ind: Author House.
- Hadnagy, C. (2011). Social engineering: The art of human hacking.
- Mahajan, S. (2014). The art of insight in science and engineering: Mastering complexity
- Morrison, H. (2014). Structural engineering art and approximation.
