Physics:Solar Car Challenge

From HandWiki
Short description: Annual solar-powered car race for high school students

Solar Car Challenge
Solar Car Challenge
VenueTexas Motor Speedway (even years)[1][2]
Cross-country (odd years)[2]
LocationUnited States
First race1995

The Solar Car Challenge is an annual solar-powered car race organized in Texas for high school students. The event attracts teams from around the world,[1] but mostly from American high schools. Originating as a class competition held in 1989,[2] the first official race was held in 1995. Each event is the end product of a two-year education cycle[3] organized by the Solar Car Challenge Foundation, a non-profit.[4] The venue of the race typically alternates annually between being cross-country races which start at the Texas Motor Speedway and track races taking place solely at the speedway.[2] Currently, this means that track races take place on even years and cross-country races on odd years, but occasionally consecutive track races are held which disrupt this pattern.[5]

History

End of the 2010 Cross Country Race at the University of Colorado

The Solar Car Challenge is an educational program aimed at engaging high school students in designing, building, and racing solar-powered vehicles. Established in 1989 by Dr. Lehman Marks, the challenge promotes science, engineering, technology, and green energy solutions among youth.[6] Originally a classroom project, it has grown into a national competition featuring closed-track races at the Texas Motor Speedway and cross-country races across the U.S.[7] The event collaborates with organizations supporting STEM education and renewable energy.[8]

Solar cars racing on the track at the Texas Motor Speedway.

The 2007 The Solar Car Challenge was featured on CNN affiliate KLTV.[9] The Solar Car Challenge was named one of America's 10 most innovative education programs by Business Wire in 2003.

Organization

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Geisel, Hunter (7 July 2024). "South Florida high school students head to Texas Motor Speedway to race solar-powered cars". CBS News Miami. https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/south-florida-high-school-students-head-to-texas-motor-speedway-to-race-solar-powered-cars/. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Walker, Noelle (15 April 2024). "Solar Car Challenge Foundation shows how NBCU Local Impact Grant made a difference". NBC Dallas Fort Worth. https://www.nbcdfw.com/about-nbc-5/community/nbcuniversal-local-impact-grants/solar-car-challenge-foundation-shows-how-nbcuniversal-local-impact-grant-made-a-difference/3515586/. 
  3. Maugeri, Steve (30 July 2024). "South Florida high school students shine at Texas competition with solar powered car". https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/south-florida-high-school-students-shine-at-texas-competition-with-solar-powered-car/. 
  4. "Solar Car Challenge Foundation". ProPublica. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/274536063. 
  5. "History of Solar Car Racing and the Solar Car Challenge". https://www.solarcarchallenge.org/challenge/history.shtml. 
  6. "Solar Car Challenge - SolarCarChallenge - High School Solar". https://www.solarcarchallenge.org/challenge/. 
  7. "Solar Car Challenge - About the Solar Car Challenge". https://www.solarcarchallenge.org/challenge/about.shtml. 
  8. "Dr. Lehman Marks | Texas Solar Energy Society" (in en-US). https://txses.org/tag/dr-lehman-marks/. 
  9. Tracy Watler (reporter) (July 18, 2007). Racing on solar power (Flash) (television report). KLTV/CNN.