Carlos is making a small wooden car to race in a school contest. He wants his car to go the farthest distance down a ramp. The teacher has given each student a block of wood to use as the car's body, two metal axles, and four smooth plastic wheels. Students can make any changes they like to the plastic wheels.

Question

 
What should Carlos do to the wheels so that his car travels for the longest time?
Answer options with 5 options
A.
Cover the plastic wheels with sandpaper.
B.
Use rigid bottle caps instead of plastic wheels.
C.
Cover the plastic wheels with felt.
D.
Do not make changes to the plastic wheels.
E.
Use rubber wheels instead of the plastic wheels

Answer 1

To help Carlos's car travel the farthest distance down the ramp, he should choose a wheel option that reduces friction and allows for smooth rolling.

Option E, "Use rubber wheels instead of the plastic wheels," is likely the best choice because rubber typically provides better grip and a smoother Rolling experience compared to plastic, while still maintaining good energy transfer.

Thus, the recommended option for Carlos is:

E. Use rubber wheels instead of the plastic wheels.