1. MAGIC OF WHEELS
2014
ABSTRACT
A wheel is a circular component that is intended to rotate. It is one of the
components of the wheel and axle. Wheels in conjunction with axles, allow heavy
objects to be moved easily facilitating movement in machines. A wheel can greatly
reduce friction by rolling together with the use of axles. The main purpose of this
investigation is to find out how an object able to travel maximum distance with
minimum force.

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INTRODUCTION
Origin of wheels
Evidence of wheeled vehicles appears from the second half of the 4th
millennium BC, near-simultaneously in Mesopotamia (Sumerian civilization), the
Northern Caucasus (Maykop culture) and Central Europe.
Mechanics and function
Mechanism that are used in this experiment are
a. Wheel and axle
The wheel is a device that enables efficient movement of an object across a
surface where there is a force pressing the object to the surface. Common examples
are a cart pulled by a horse, and the rollers on an aircraft flap mechanism. Wheels
are used in conjunction with axles; either the wheel turns on the axle, or the axle
turns in the object body. The mechanics are the same in either case. The low
resistance to motion (compared to dragging) is explained as follows .The normal
force at the sliding interface is the same. The sliding distance is reduced for a given
distance of travel. The coefficient of friction at the interface is usually lower. A wheel
can also offer advantages in traversing irregular surfaces if the wheel radius is
sufficiently large compared to the irregularities.
b. Bearing
A bearing is a device to permit fixed direction motion between two parts,
typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings are used to help reduce friction at the
interface. In the simplest and oldest case the bearing is just a round hole through
which the axle passes.

3. MAGIC OF WHEELS
2014
c. Inclined plane
An inclined plane is a flat supporting surface tilted at an angle, with one end
higher than the other, used as an aid for raising or lowering a load. The inclined
plane is one of the six classical simple machines defined by Renaissance scientists.
Inclined planes are widely used to move heavy loads over vertical obstacles. Moving
an object up an inclined plane requires less force than lifting it straight up, at a cost
of an increase in the distance moved. The mechanical advantage of an inclined
plane, the factor by which the force is reduced, is equal to the ratio of the length of
the sloped surface to the height it spans.
d. Mass
Mass is a property of a physical body which determines the body's resistance to
being accelerated by a force and the strength of its mutual gravitational attraction
with other bodies.

4. MAGIC OF WHEELS
2014
TITLE
MAGIC OF WHEELS
PROBLEM
The wheel of a vehicle rotates to allow the vehicle to move. Design
a mechanical system that
involves minimal force that gives maximum distance travelled by
the vehicle. Discuss the mechanism involved.

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APPARATUS
Wheel Inclined Plane Measuring tape
Wooden Block Bearing Clay
ruler weighing scale add on weights

6. MAGIC OF WHEELS
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PROCEDURES TO BUILD INCLINED PLANE
1. Thick three layer plywood is cut into length of 90cm x 65cm.( This is the base for
the ramp)
2. Then cut three pieces of wood to fix with the base.
3. Prepare 6cm wooden block to fix at the bottom of base plywood.
PROCEDURES TO BUILT WOODEN CAR
1. Prepare a wooden block with length of 18cm x 7cm x 3 cm.
2. Thighten the both sides of the shaft with the screw.
3. Fix the wheels at the both side of the shaft.
4. Thighten the wheels with nut and bolt.

7. MAGIC OF WHEELS
2014
5. Repeat step 2 to step 4 to fix another shaft and wheel.
EXPERIMENT 1
PROBLEM
How tyre surface effect the distance travelled by the wooden car?
AIM
To investigate the relationship between tyre surface with distance travelled by
wooden car.
HYPOTHESIS
If tyre surface narrow then distance travelled by wooden car is further.
APPARATUS
Inclined plane, wooden car, measuring tape
MANIPULATED VARIABLES
Surface of tyre
RESPONDING VARIABLES
Distance travelled by wooden car
FIXED VARIABLE
Mass of car, size of tyre

8. MAGIC OF WHEELS
2014
PROCEDURES
1. Fix the shaft under the wooden block with screw and pin.
2. Fix the flat surface tyre at the end of each shaft.
3. Tighten the tyre with nuts and bold.
4. Release the car on the ramp.
5. Measure the distance travelled by the car.
6. Repeat the experiment three times and take average distance.
7. Repeat the step 3 until step 7 with narrow surface tyre.
RESULT
Surface of the tyre
Distance travelled (cm) Average
(cm)
T1 T2 T3
Flat surface tyre
Narrow surface tyre

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2014
GRAPH
DISCUSSION
From the result we know that the narrow surfaced tyre travelled ______cm. while the
flat surfaced tyre travelled _____cm. It shows narrow surfaced tyre travelled further
compare to the flat surfaced tyre. Flat surface tyre has more friction because the
contact with surfaced area is larger. Due to this narrow surfaced tyre able to travel
further.
Conclusion
Narrow surfaced tyre able to travel further. The hypothesis is accepted.
EXPERIMENT 2
PROBLEM
How the roller affects the distance travelled by the wooden car?
AIM
To investigate the relationship between presence of roller in wheel with distance
travelled by wooden car.
HYPOTHESIS
Car with roller wheel travelled further
MANIPULATED VARIABLES
Presence of roller in wheel.

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RESPONDING VARIABLES
Distance travelled by wooden car
FIXED VARIABLE
Mass of the car, size of the wheel, narrow surfaced tyre.
APPARATUS
Inclined plane, wooden car, measuring tape, weighs
PROCEDURES
1. Fix the shaft under the wooden block with screw and pin.
2. Fix the wheel with roller at the end of each shaft.
3. Tighten the tyre with nuts and bold.
4. Release the car on the ramp.
5. Measure the distance travelled by the car.
6. Repeat the experiment three times and take average distance.
7. Repeat the step 3 until step 7 with wheel without roller.
RESULT
Presence of roller Distance travelled (cm) Average
(cm)
T1 T2 T3
wheel with roller
wheel without roller

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2014
GRAPH
DISCUSSION
From the result we know that the wheel with roller travelled ______cm. while the
wheel without roller travelled _____cm. It shows wheel with roller travelled further
compare to the wheel without roller. Wheel with roller has less friction because the
contact with surfaced area is smaller. Due to this wheel with roller able to travel
further.
CONCLUSION
Wheel with roller able to travel further. The hypothesis is accepted.
EXPERIMENT 3
PROBLEM
How lubricated roller wheel affects the distance travelled by wooden car?
AIM
To investigate the relationship between presence of lubrication with distance
travelled by car.
HYPOTHESIS
Car with lubricated roller wheel travelled further

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MANIPULATED VARIABLES
Presence of lubrication.
RESPONDING VARIABLES
Distance travelled by wooden car
FIXED VARIABLE
Mass of the car, size of the wheel, narrow surfaced tyre
APPARATUS
Inclined plane, wooden car, measuring tape
PROCEDURES
1. Fix the shaft under the wooden block with screw and pin.
2. Fix the wheel with lubricated roller at the end of each shaft.
3. Tighten the tyre with nuts and bold.
4. Release the car on the ramp.
5. Measure the distance travelled by the car.
6. Repeat the experiment three times and take average distance.
7. Repeat the step 3 until step 7 with wheel without lubricated roller.

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RESULT
presence of lubrication Distance travelled Average
T1 T2 T3
Wheel with lubrication
roller
Wheel without
lubrication roller
GRAPH
DISCUSSION
From the result we know that the wheel with lubricated roller travelled ______cm.
while the wheel without lubricated roller travelled _____cm. It shows wheel with
lubricated roller travelled further compare to the wheel without lubricate roller. Wheel
with lubricated roller has less friction because the contact with surfaced area is
smaller. Due to this wheel with lubricated roller able to travel further.
CONCLUSION
Wheel with lubricated roller able to travel further. The hypothesis is accepted.

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EXPERIMENT 4
PROBLEM
How size of wheel affects the distance travelled by wooden car?
AIM
To investigate the relationship between size of wheel with distance travelled by car.
HYPOTHESIS
Car with larger size of wheel travelled further
MANIPULATED VARIABLES
Size of wheel.
RESPONDING VARIABLES
Distance travelled by wooden car
FIXED VARIABLE
Mass of the car, type of wheel, narrow surfaced tyre
APPARATUS
Inclined plane, wooden car, measuring tape

15. MAGIC OF WHEELS
2014
PROCEDURES
1. Fix the shaft under the wooden block with screw and pin.
2. Fix the wheel with larger size of wheel at the end of each shaft.
3. Tighten the tyre with nuts and bold.
4. Release the car on the ramp.
5. Measure the distance travelled by the car.
6. Repeat the experiment three times and take average distance.
7. Repeat the step 3 until step 7 with small size of wheel.
RESULT
Size of wheel (cm) Distance travelled Average
T1 T2 T3
GRAPH

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2014
DISCUSSION
From the result we know that the larger size of wheel travelled ______cm. while the
small size of wheel travelled _____cm. It shows larger size of wheel travelled further
compare to the small size of wheel. Wheel with larger size rotate further than small
size of wheel. Due to this larger size of wheel able to travel further.
CONCLUSION
Larger size of wheel able to travel further. The hypothesis is accepted.
LIFE EXAMPLE
Wheel Bearing
Wheel bearings function very much like typical bearings found in car steering.
The wheels spin smoothly and quietly. Without wheel bearings, the wheel of our
vehicles will instantly wear out of friction.
As for 4-wheeled vehicles, each has a pair of front wheel bearings and a pair
of rear wheel bearings. They perform two main jobs. That is allowing the wheels with
minimal friction and supporting the vehicles' weight.

17. MAGIC OF WHEELS
2014
Similarly, we used bearing in our wooden car to get extra distance. It is
because by decreasing the friction, the car can travel further. The bearing helps to
reduce friction. So with minimum force we could get more distance.
ERRORS / PROBLEM FACED
1. The screw that fix with wheels always loosen.
2. The mass of the wooden car with bearing and without bearing is not same.
3. The size of the ramp was narrow.
HOW WE OVERCOME THE ERRORS
1. We make sure the screw is tight before start doing the experiment.
2. We add clay on wooden car without bearing to make the mass as same as
the wooden car with bearing.
3. We build the ramp again.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. Pupils used gloves when dealing with ramp.
2. Pupils must be careful when using saw to cut shaft.
3. Pupils must use mask when cutting the shaft.

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FUTURE RESEARCH / SUGGESTION
In future research, we want to develop the project by improvising the innovation. We
want to bui ld a turbine with bearing to produce electricity. In this innovation we want
to use wind energy to produce electricity. Since wind energy is a renewable energy it
uses minimum cost but can get maximum electricity. It is also earth friendly.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This project book would not have been possible without the guidance and
help of the several individuals who have helped and contributed and extended their
valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this project.
First and foremost our utmost gratitude to out headmistress Mrs Anthony
Mary Abel whose sincerity and encouragement we will never forget. Mrs Selvy
Ramasamy, our senior assistant has been our inspiration as we hurdle all the
obstacles in the completion of this project. Not forgotten our unselfish and unfailed
supporter, our dissertation Mrs Puspah Kandasamy and also encouragement from
all the teachers.
Last but not least, our families and the one above all of us the omnipresent God for
answering our prayers for giving the strength to pass through the project.

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REFERENCES
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearing_(mechanical)
3. http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/bearing1.htm
4. http://www.wheels.ca/
5. http://www.mechanicalebook.com/videos/cwheel.htm
6. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167892299800492
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear-motion_bearing
8. http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/bearing.htm
9. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bearing
10. http://www.thomasnet.com/articles/machinery-tools-supplies/bearing-types
11. http://www.nmbtc.com/bearings/engineering/bearing-types.html
12. http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/bearing3.htm
13. http://www.ahrinternational.com/introduction_to_bearings.htm

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PHOTHOS

21. MAGIC OF WHEELS
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22. MAGIC OF WHEELS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
NUM CONTENTS PAGE
1 ABSTRACT 1
2 INTRODUCTION 1
6 PROBLEM 3
7 APPARATUS 4
8 PROCEDURES TO BUILD INCLINED PLANE 5
8 EXPERIMENT 1 6
9 EXPERIMENT 2 9
10 EXPERIMENT 3 12
11 LIFE EXAMPLES 15
12 ERRORS 16
13 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 16
14 FUTURE RESEARCH 17

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16 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 18
17 REFERENCES 19
18 PHOTHOS 20
19 APPENDICES 22