My hypothesis is that when the engine spins the wheels, which are connected to the generator, the generator will spin causing it to make more electricity that will charge the battery more. 

How a DC Generator Works:

In a simple definition, a DC generator (also known as a DC machine due to the fact that it can act as a motor too as well) is an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy using electromagnetic induction. Electromagnetic induction is basically when you spin an electrical conductor inside of a magnetic field.

How a Rechargeable Battery Works

A rechargeable battery works the same way as a normal battery except when it is being charged, it does the opposite of when it is being discharged which is: electrons moving from the negative pole back to the positive pole so that it can discharge again and go back to the negative pole.

Parts of a DC Generator

Stator: The main function of the stator is to provide magnetic fields where the coil spins. A stator includes two magnets with opposite polarities facing each other. These magnets are located to fit in the region of the rotor.

Rotor: A rotor in a DC machine includes slotted iron laminations with slots that are stacked to shape a cylindrical armature core. The function of the lamination is to decrease the loss caused due to eddy current.

Armature Windings: Armature windings are in a closed circuit form and are connected in series to parallel to enhance the produced current sum.

Yoke: The external structure of the DC generator is known as Yoke. It is made of either cast iron or steel. It provides the necessary mechanical power for carrying the magnetic flux given through the poles.

Poles: The function of a pole is to hold the field windings. These windings are wound on poles and are either connected in series or parallel by the armature windings.

Pole Shoe: Pole shoe is mainly utilized for spreading the magnetic flux to prevent the field coil from falling.

Commutator: A commutator works like a rectifier that changes AC voltage to DC voltage within the armature winding. It is designed with a copper segment, and each copper segment is protected from the other with the help of mica sheets. It is located on the shaft of the machine.

Brushes: The electrical connections can be ensured between the commutator as well as the exterior load circuit with the help of brushes.

Parts of a Rechargeable Battery

Anode: Where oxidation reactions (loss of electrons) take place. Moreover, common anode materials may include graphite, lithium metal, and lithium-ions.

Cathode: Unlike an anode, the cathode is an electrode where reduction reactions (gain of electrons) occur. Moreover, the material of the cathode depends on the type of battery. You can use different lithium alloys here.

Electrolyte: The substance that chemically reacts with anode and cathode in a battery. It is a medium that allows the flow of ions inside the battery. The anode and cathode are immersed in it.

Separator: Porous membrane which separates the anode and cathode to avoid short-circuiting. Moreover, it is chemically and electrically stable. The most used separators are Polyethylene or polypropylene membranes.

AC (Alternating Current)

In AC, the electric charge flow changes its direction periodically. AC is the most common and is also the most-preferred electric power for household equipment, office, buildings, etc. It was first tested based on the principles of Michael Faraday (who made Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction) in 1832 using a Dynamo Electric Generator. Alternating current in waveform is called a sine wave. That basically means that it is a curved line. These curved lines represent electric cycles and are measured per second. AC is used in powerhouses and buildings because generating and transporting AC across long distances is very easy. AC is also capable of powering electric motors.

DC (Direct Current)

Unlike AC, the flow of DC does not change periodically. The current electricity flows in a single direction in a steady voltage. DC is mainly used to supply power to electrical devices and also to charge batteries. DC has the combination of a plus and a minus sign, a dotted line or a straight line. Although most devices rely on DC so when they get AC they convert it into direct current.

Controlled Variables: size and material of cardboard base, battery holders, DC motors, tape, and platform used for testing

Dependent Variable: time the battery runs for

Independent Variable: windage from the DC motors

Procedure:

Model Without Generator:

1.                Cut out a 20.5 cm by 12 cm piece of cardboard.

2.                Then connect the battery holders to the motors and tape both to the cardboard using the surgical tape

3.                Insert the AA batteries into the holders

Model With Generator:

1.                Cut out a 20.5 cm by 12 cm piece of cardboard.

2.                Then connect the battery holders to the motors and tape both to the cardboard using the surgical tape

3.                Tape the generators near the motors

4.                Put the gears on both pairs and make sure that they are close to each other and secure

5.                Connect the wires from the generators to the boat rocker switches and use more wire to connect the boat rocker switches to the battery holders

6.                Tape it all so that it is secure

7.                Insert the rechargeable AA batteries into their holders and make sure that the wires touch the opposite sides of the battery.

My observations were that the generator model suprisingly lasted less longer than the normal model. The generator model lasted 1:29:13 while the normal model lasted 1:59:47.

What I analyzed from my observations is that since the normal model lasted longer than that generator model, there was an error in my experiment.

In conclusion, the world needed a solution to make EV’s last longer ever since they started noticing what gas cars are doing to the environment. I thought that I had found that solution which was to attach a generator to the wheel of the EV but when I tested it, it did not work. With the generator model lasting almost 30 minutes less, there must have been an error in my work. After my research I concluded that there must have been some sort of loss incurred onto the DC generator.

During this project I figured out that we needed a way to make electric cars last longer and that mabye we could do it this way. But as I discovered after conducting the experiment that there was a lot of stuff that could go wrong and therefore stop it from working.

Errors:

According to my research, when generators fail to function or function less, it is called generator loss. The main losses that might have affected this project include:

Copper Loss: When power is lost as heat in the windings

Mechanical Loss: When there is too much friction and too little windage.

References:

https://byjus.com/physics/faradays-law/

https://www.vedantu.com/physics/dc-generator/

https://byjus.com/physics/dc-generator/

https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/internal-losses-that-reduce-efficiency-of-a-dc-generator

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/hysteresis-loss

https://www.ufinebattery.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-how-do-rechargeable-batteries-work/

https://www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainsbatteries

I would like to acknowledge my dad for helping me with everything at home, my CYSF coordinator for guided me when I was stuck, and my science teacher for giving me class time to work on this.