DIY Wind Powered Car: A Fun and Easy Tutorial

Building a wind powered car is a fantastic way to explore basic physics principles, especially how wind energy can be transformed into motion. With just a few simple materials, you can create a small car that moves with the power of the wind.

How to Make a Wind Powered Car

Building a wind-powered car from everyday materials is a fun and educational project that people of all ages can enjoy. It’s a great way to introduce kids to engineering and physics in a hands-on, creative way. Plus, it’s a fantastic reminder of how to harness natural forces to power our inventions.

💡Explore more engineering activities for kids here.

Recomended Grade Level: 2nd-6th Grade

Materials:

Toilet Paper Tube: This will be the body of your car.
Plastic Bottle Caps (4): These will serve as the wheels.
Paper: For the sail to catch the wind.
Straws or Wooden Skewers: To create the axles for the wheels and mast for the sail.
Tape or Glue: To assemble the car.
Scissors: For cutting materials.
Fan: To provide the wind power.

Wind Powered Car Instructions

Note: You have the flexibility with this activity to build the car any way you want or follow our simple instructions. This is a great way to scale the activity for ages and abilities. It’s also a great opportunity to allow for creativity and critical thinking.

💡Read more about the Engineering Design Process [here].

1. Prepare the Wheels and Axles

Gather Your Wheels: Collect four plastic bottle caps. These will be your car’s wheels.
Create Axle Holes: Carefully poke a hole in the center of each bottle cap. You can use a nail or a small drill bit for this step.
Attach Axles: Insert a straw or wooden skewer through each pair of bottle caps to create two axles. Ensure the wheels can spin freely but are secure on the axles.

🛑 Safety first: Adult supervision and assistance is required for some steps!

2. Build the Car Body

Prepare the Tube: Take the toilet paper tube, which will serve as your car’s chassis.
Attach Axles: Make two parallel sets of small holes near the bottom of the tube, one set near the front and one near the back. These holes should be large enough to fit the straws or skewers.
Insert Axles: Slide the axles with wheels through the holes in the toilet paper tube. The car should now have four wheels and be able to roll smoothly.

3. Create the Sail

Cut the Sail: Cut a piece of paper into a rectangle. The size can vary, but something around 6×8 inches should work well.
Attach the Sail: Tape or glue the bottom edge of the paper sail to the middle of a straw or skewer. This will be the mast of your sail.
Mount the Sail: Attach the mast to the top of the toilet paper tube. Make a small hole in the top of the tube and insert the mast, securing it with glue or tape.

4. Test Your Wind-Powered Car

Position the Fan: Place your fan at one end of a smooth surface, like a table or floor.
Place the Car: Position your wind-powered car in front of the fan.
Turn on the Fan: Switch on the fan and watch as your car catches the wind in its sail and starts to move!
Race a Friend: Build two cars and see which one is faster!

💡Is it a windy day? Take your wind powered car outside and see how it does! Do you need to make some adjustments?

Tips for Success:

Adjust the Sail: Experiment with the angle and size of the sail to see how it affects the car’s speed and direction.
Smooth Surface: Ensure your surface is smooth and flat for the best performance.
Balance: Make sure your car is balanced and the axles are straight to avoid it veering off course.

💡 Explore more of our recycled STEAM projects [here].

Free STEM Challenges Pack!

Wind Powered Car Science

This project demonstrates the basic principles of aerodynamics and energy conversion. The fan generates wind, which applies force to the sail. The sail captures this wind energy and transfers it to the car, propelling it forward. Adjusting the sail and weight distribution allows you to explore concepts like force, motion, and friction.

💡 Learn more about potential and kinetic energy [here].

STEM Concepts Covered

Forces & Motion (Physics) – Discover how wind creates force to push a car forward.
Simple Machines & Engineering Design – Learn about wheels, axles, and aerodynamics.
Energy Transfer (Physics) – Explore how wind energy converts into motion.
Renewable Energy (Environmental Science) – Understand how wind power is used in real-world applications.
Scientific Inquiry & Experimentation – Test different materials, sail shapes, and designs to improve movement.

More Air or Wind Powered STEM Projects

Explore force, motion, and energy with these fantastic STEM projects for kids.

STEM Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce STEM more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.