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Paper Powered Car

Stem Activities

Ages: 9-12

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Would you believe that thin, soft ordinary paper can power your small car? While it might sound unbelievable, it's actually science! Are you ready? Let's make your car zoom forward using paper!

Materials Needed

Cardboard
card paper
4 bottle caps
paint
paint palette
double-sided tape
scissors
pencil
paintbrush
wooden sticks
plasticine
ruler

An assortment of craft supplies is laid out on a light woodgrain table. These include a piece of brown cardboard, a sheet of bright yellow paper, three small containers of paint (light blue, light pink, and white), a roll of clear tape, a small blob of teal putty or clay, a thin wooden dowel, a clear plastic ruler, a pencil, a paintbrush, a pair of scissors, three small tubes of glue, and a flower-shaped paint palette with a dab of yellow paint in one section. The items are arranged neatly, suggesting preparation for a craft project.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Draw a 15cm x 8cm rectangle on the cardboard.

A piece of brown cardboard rests on a light woodgrain table. A rectangular area is marked on the cardboard with thin lines. Labels indicate the dimensions of the marked area: 15cm along the longer horizontal side and 8cm along the shorter vertical side. This suggests a section to be cut or folded.

Step 2

Carefully cut out the rectangle you've drawn using scissors.

A hand holds a piece of brown cardboard with a rectangular shape drawn on it. A pair of scissors is cutting along the lines of the rectangle. The background is a light woodgrain surface.

Step 3

On the right wide edge of the rectangle, mark 2cm vertically and draw a line parallel to the wide edge. At both ends of this line, make marking points 2cm perpendicular to the long edge.

A rectangular piece of brown cardboard lies on a light woodgrain surface. Three points are marked along one of the shorter edges, each 2cm apart, as indicated by lines and labels. This suggests markings for folding or cutting.

Step 4

Next, draw a 5cm line from each marking point.

A rectangular piece of brown cardboard is placed on a light woodgrain surface. Two parallel lines, each 5cm long as indicated by labels, are lightly drawn on the cardboard. These markings suggest planned cuts or folds.

Step 5

Using scissors, cut the 4cm line between the marking points, then carefully cut along the two 5cm lines to create a flap.

A hand holds a piece of brown cardboard on a light woodgrain surface. A small rectangular flap has been cut on three sides and folded outward. Scissors are cutting along the final uncut line of the flap.

Step 6

As shown in the diagram, make marking points at 1cm and 7cm along the long edge, and draw vertical lines at these points.

A piece of brown cardboard rests on a light woodgrain table. A small rectangular flap is partially cut out and folded open. A vertical line is lightly drawn on the cardboard to the left of the flap. A horizontal line at the bottom edge shows a measurement of 7cm, with 0cm and 1cm markings to the left, indicating the position of the vertical line. This suggests further cutting or folding along the marked lines.

Step 7

At both ends of the line closest to the end, mark 2cm points and draw 4cm vertical lines from each point. Then connect the endpoints as shown in the diagram.

A rectangular piece of brown cardboard is on a light woodgrain surface. Lines are drawn on it, outlining a smaller rectangle on the right side and a larger, irregular shape on the left. A line labeled 4cm indicates the width of the bottom section of the larger shape. These markings appear to be guides for cutting or folding.

Step 8

Cut along the lines you've just drawn with scissors, and you've completed the initial body of your powered car!

A piece of brown cardboard, cut into a complex shape resembling a simplified camera or projector, sits on a light woodgrain surface. It has a main rectangular body with a smaller rectangle attached to the top. A narrow rectangular strip extends to the left, connected to the main body by a thin bridge section. Faint lines are visible on the cardboard, likely remnants of cutting guides.

Step 9

Paint your powered car in your favourite colours.

Two hands are working on a light blue painted cardboard cutout on a light woodgrain surface. The cutout, resembling a simplified camera or projector, is being painted with a small brush held in the right hand. The left hand holds the cutout steady. The brush is applying paint to the lower right section of the main body of the object.

Step 10

Take another piece of paper, mark points at 3cm and 6cm from the wide edge, and draw lines perpendicular to the wide edge at these points. Then cut along these vertical lines with scissors.

On a light wooden surface, a hand uses a pencil and a clear ruler to draw a line on a pale yellow piece of paper. The ruler is positioned horizontally near the bottom of the paper. Lines are already drawn at 3cm and 6cm from the top edge, as indicated by markings to the left of the paper. The hand is in the process of drawing another horizontal line along the ruler.

Step 11

Use double-sided tape to stick the two paper strips together.

Two hands hold a long, thin strip of pale yellow material over a light woodgrain surface. The strip is slightly curved. A small piece of double-sided tape is visible in the center of the strip, and the hands appear to be in the process of folding the strip at the point where the tape is located.

Step 12

Take the remaining paper piece after cutting the strips, and use a wooden stick to roll it into a tube, securing the edge with double-sided tape.

Two hands are shown beginning to roll a piece of pale yellow paper or cardstock on a light woodgrain table. The paper is oriented horizontally, and a strip of 3M double-sided tape is visible along the top edge. The hands are holding the bottom edge of the paper and starting to curl it upwards to form a tube or roll.

Step 13

Using a pencil, mark points at 2cm, 4cm, and 12cm on the paper tube. Then cut the tube at these marks with scissors - you'll end up with two 2cm tubes and one 8cm tube.

A pale yellow cylindrical object, likely made of paper or cardstock, rests on a light woodgrain surface. It is positioned horizontally and measures 12cm in length, as indicated by a line and label above it. Smaller vertical marks on the line denote 0cm, 2cm, and 4cm intervals. There are faint, small vertical lines drawn on the cylinder itself at approximately the 2cm, 4cm, and 10cm points.

Step 14

Cut two 11cm lengths of wooden stick using scissors.

A pair of hands is shown cutting a thin wooden dowel with scissors. The dowel is positioned diagonally across a light woodgrain surface. One hand holds the dowel near the left end, while the other hand holds the scissors, which are in the process of cutting the dowel near the center.

Step 15

Use double-sided tape to attach one end of the long paper strip to the middle of the wooden stick. Wind the paper strip around the wooden stick.

Two hands hold a thin wooden dowel horizontally over a light woodgrain background. Attached to the dowel, and hanging down below it, is a piece of pale yellow paper or cardstock. The paper is slightly curved and appears to be attached to the dowel with tape or adhesive.

Step 16

Turn the car body over and position the stick with the paper strip as shown. Secure the end of the paper strip to the back of the car using double-sided tape.

Two hands hold a light blue, roughly hourglass-shaped object made from cardboard or thin wood against a light woodgrain background. A pale yellow roll of paper is positioned within a rectangular opening in the center of the object. A small wooden dowel protrudes from the left side of the object. One hand is gently touching the yellow paper roll. The overall appearance suggests a simple handmade toy or model.

Step 17

Turn the body over again, slide the two 2cm short paper tubes onto the ends of the wooden stick. Then glue them to either side of the rectangular hole.

Two hands are manipulating a light blue cardboard or thin wood construction against a light woodgrain background. The construction is roughly hourglass-shaped, and a small wooden dowel is inserted through slots in a rectangular section near the center. The hands are holding the construction and appear to be demonstrating how the dowel can be turned or rotated within the slots.

Step 18

Attach the remaining 8cm paper tube to the car body as shown, parallel to the tubes attached in the previous step.

Two hands hold a light blue, roughly hourglass-shaped object made of cardboard or thin wood against a light woodgrain background. A small wooden dowel is inserted through slots on the right side of the central rectangular section. On the left side, a pale yellow cylinder, slightly longer than the dowel, is inserted through corresponding slots. The hands hold the object with the yellow cylinder on the left and the wooden dowel on the right. This likely represents a further stage of construction of a simple handmade toy or model.

Step 19

Insert plasticine into the bottle caps.

Two hands hold a clear plastic bottle cap containing a small ball of bright teal or turquoise modeling clay or putty. The clay is textured, showing folds and creases. The background is a light woodgrain surface.

Step 20

Using a pencil, make a hole in the centre of each bottle cap with plasticine. Make all 4 bottle caps this way.

A hand holding a gray pencil is poking the pencil point through a hole in a clear plastic bottle cap. The cap is placed on a light woodgrain surface. The inside of the cap appears to have a light blue or white surface.

Step 21

Now, secure the 4 bottle caps onto the wooden sticks. Then wind the stick with the paper strip attached - this is the car's spring mechanism.

Two hands assemble a small, light blue toy car on a light wooden table. The car's body is made of cardboard, and its axles are constructed from rolled-up paper or thin cardboard tubes. Plastic bottle caps serve as the wheels. The hands attach the bottle cap wheels to the axles, completing the car's construction. The video focuses on the process of attaching the wheels, showcasing the simple materials and design.

Step 22

Press the flap down onto the wound-up stick, move the car to an open space, release the flap, and watch your powered car go!

A small, light blue toy car, crafted from cardboard and plastic bottle caps for wheels, rests on a light wooden table. The car features exposed axles made from what appears to be rolled-up paper or thin cardboard tubes. A hand briefly enters the frame at the bottom right. The car does not move, and a popping sound is heard, possibly indicating an off-screen action or the sound of something being placed on the table.

The Science Behind It:

The paper-powered car works on the principle of elastic potential energy and kinetic energy. When you wind up the paper, it stores energy - this is elastic potential energy. As the flap is released, this stored energy converts into kinetic energy, propelling the car forward.

Who Are We?

We’re a passionate team of scientists, engineers, and educators dedicated to delivering hands-on fun. Our mission is to inspire creativity and confidence in the next generation of young innovators.