Tasmanian students win national solar car challenge -


Students from three Tasmanian Government schools have won a clean sweep of the Australian International Model Solar Car Challenge.
Education Minister David Bartlett today congratulated students from Rose Bay and Queechy High Schools and Hobart College who came first, second and third in the national competition.
“This is a fantastic result for Tasmania and shows what first-class, real-life learning is occurring in our State schools,” he said.
Mr Bartlett said the competition attracted 32 entrants from around the country, as well as a team from Portugal.
The competition, which has been running since 1992, requires secondary students to build a model car to a set of strict regulations, and race them two at a time on a 100m long figure eight track.
“The cars must be no more than 32 centimetres wide and 65 centimetres long, and can only be powered by a solar panel producing no more than 12 watts. Despite this, the best cars can reach speeds over 30 kilometres per hour,” Mr Bartlett said.
“Three Tasmanian cars succeeded in being in the final four, with the final result being Hobart College, Queechy High and Rose Bay High.
“Along the way, Hobart College set a new track record of 16.36 seconds, shaving more than half a second off the record.
“In addition to the racing, teams were also interviewed by a team of experts to determine their knowledge and understanding of the engineering involved, and the Hobart College team also won this competition.”
Mr Bartlett said Taroona High School came second in the senior section of the solar powered model boat competition, which was run in conjunction with the solar car challenge.
“I’d like to congratulate all the Tasmanian students and their teachers who took part in the challenge on their outstanding achievements.
“I would also like to acknowledge Hydro Tasmania and Engineers Australia for their generous sponsorship without which these students would not have been able to travel to the championships,” Mr Bartlett said.
REMINDER FOR MEDIA - School teams which took part in the national competition will be honoured at a special celebration at the Hands On Energy Discovery Centre, 4 Elizabeth St, at 4.30pm today.