Science Smarts: Time to make the best out of a windy situation

By Patty Rooks on June 21, 2025.

Although I am enjoying the beautiful sunny spring weather, I am not a real fan of the wind that comes with it. In order to make the best out of a windy situation, I thought I would share a fun experiment that will make a windy day much more fun outside. Let’s get started!

*Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

– Cardboard pieces

– Construction paper

– Wooden skewers

– Straws

– 4 plastic pop bottle lids

– Tape

– Windy location (or fan)

– Exacta knife

– Adult science helper

Procedure

1. The first thing you need to do is design your car!

2. Have an adult help you cut out a body for the car from the cardboard pieces. You will want a nice strong body (in case it crashes).

3. It is time to make the AXLES for your car. Tape two straws to the bottom of your car – again, this is your design, so you decide where to place them.

4. Once the axles are in place, carefully push a wooden skewer through each of the straws.

5. Set aside for now.

6. Making wheels for the car are a bit tricky and need adult help. Poke a hole through the centre of the plastic caps. It only needs to be large enough to fit the skewer through it. DO NOT DO THIS YET.

7. CAREFULLY push the plastic pop bottle cap onto one side of the skewer in the axle. Place another cap on the opposite side of the skewer.

8. Repeat for the second axle.

9. It is time to design the sail to catch the wind in order for your car to move. Using the construction paper (it is more flexible than cardboard), cut out a sail. Set aside for now

10. On the front of your car, have your adult helper poke a hole in the cardboard with the pointy end of the wooden skewer. Secure the skewer upright on the front of the car.

11. Add and secure your sail on the skewer. Gently push the paper on, making it look like a sailboat and secure it in place with a few pieces of tape if necessary.

12. Find a windy location (if it is not windy, which I highly doubt in southeastern Alberta use a fan), and experiment with the car.

13. Does the size of the sail make a difference to how fast your car can go?

14. What about the location of the axles?

15. Challenge a friend to see if their design is better or worse?

16. Have fun!

What is going on?

This is a wonderful experiment to demonstrate some key physics concepts. Mass, friction and forces are all at play here.

It is quite simple how the experiment works; as the wind (from the fan or natural/outside) hits the sail, it pushes the car forward. If the axles are parallel and the wheels centred on the axles, it will allow the car to move freely and smoothly ahead. If not, it may need to see a mechanic, or at the very least a scientist to adjust for the problems you are faced with.

Calling all educators! Booking for our Hands on Learning Kits for the 2025-2026 school year is now open – you can book for the entire year if you have your planning ready. Email your requests ASAP as it is first come first served. As well, keep reading here as there will an exciting announcement on a new hands on offering for the Junior High Classroom thanks to the generous support of TC Energy!

Patty Rooks, senior scientific consultant Praxis Science Outreach Society. Praxis has moved! We are very fortunate to be located in the Community Futures Entre Corp Building at #202 556 Fourth St. SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 0K8. For all your science needs, please email praxis@praxismh.ca.

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