Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

HI
My son is doing a Science Project on Solar Powered Car. He is a sixth grade student. The project has to connect how this "invention" will make someone's job easier. Would you be able to help in answering this question.

Thank you,
Roseanne Loffredo

Roseanne - The concept of producing a solar powered car as a project and trying to answer the question "how will the invention make someone's job easier" are a bit disconnected. I can appreciate this stock question about an innovation or invention being used in a science project, but it is not directly related to a solar car. There are many aspects of how solar (or any alternative energy source) benefits transportation that could be summarized as benefits of solar powered cars. I would hhave yr son clarify with the teacher that this question has to answered as asked, in light of the project he is doing. Not all inventions or innovations directly link to improvements in productivity or lessening the workloads of people. A new vaccine may cure a disease, but doesn't make someones job easier like an electric saw or back-hoe. Sorry for not having the perfect answer, but the specific question is a bit of the problem.

Rick Marz

Roseanne,

I agree with Rick about the specific question of how this invention would make someone's job easier. However, there are many areas where this kind of technology apply in a positive way. The Science Buddies project found here:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ml#summary

Has alot of additional resources identified as well as a section that discusses careers where this field of science and engineering apply. Check it out.