Materials You’ll Need Thread spool Guide stick (pencil, dowel) three times as long as the diameter of the spool 2 metal washers Rubber bands Masking tape Exploration Build and test a spool racer! Run a rubber band through the center hole in the spool. Run the other end of the rubber band through 2 metal washers. Insert the guide stick through this end of the rubber band, so that one end doesn't project past the end of the spool. Gently pull the other end of the rubber band so that the washers are against the spool.  Then, fold the other end of the rubber band over the end of the spool and tape it in place. Wrap a rubber band around the spool near the end by the stick to help provide traction. To operate your racer, wind the rubber band 5 times using the guide stick, and place the racer on a flat surface with the long end of the guide stick behind the racer.  Release it! How does the number of times you turn the guide stick affect the distance traveled? To find out, measure and record the distance traveled after winding the stick 5 times, 8 times, 10 times, 12 times, 15 times, etc. Plot your data on a graph.