ChargedUP

Behind The Scenes of an RC Car


By Aayan Sikri

January 23, 2026


An interactive exploration connecting battery chemistry and motor physics to understand how an RC car works. Discover how chemical reactions in batteries produce the power that drives motors.

🔋 Explore Battery Chemistry ⚡ Explore Motor Physics 🚗 Try RC Car Simulator
📖 Glossary • 📚 Sources • 👤 About

Learning Objectives

Battery Chemistry

Understand how AA batteries use redox reactions to produce electrons and electrical energy.

Kinematics & Forces

Calculate how motor torque translates to acceleration, speed, and motion.

RC Car Integration

See how the battery, motor, and physics combine to make an RC car move.

How ChargedUP Works

1

Battery: Chemical Energy

Start with AA batteries using Alkaline (Zn/MnOâ‚‚) or Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) chemistry. Calculate how many electrons are released and how much energy is stored.

Open Chemistry Module →
2

Motor: Electrical to Mechanical

Electrons flow as current through the motor coils. Use the right-hand rule to understand how current creates magnetic fields that spin the motor.

Open Physics Module →
3

Motion: Forces & Kinematics

Motor torque creates force at the wheels. Use dynamics and kinematics to calculate acceleration, velocity, and how fast your RC car can go!

Try RC Car Simulator →

Quick Start

🚗 Power Your RC Car

Follow this path to understand the complete energy chain:

  1. Battery Setup: Use the Chemistry Calculator to configure a 4×AA battery pack (6 Volts, 2000 milliampere-hours)
  2. Motor Analysis: Import battery data into the Physics Simulator to see motor magnetic field and estimated speed
  3. Car Motion: Use the RC Car Simulator to visualize acceleration and motion
  4. Race! Try the top-down (view) race track to see your car in action
Start with 4×AA Pack → Try Virtual RC Car

Curriculum Outcomes

Chemistry 30S

  • Mole concept and molar mass calculations
  • Balancing chemical equations
  • Stoichiometry and limiting reactants
  • Oxidation-reduction reactions
  • Electrochemical cells (batteries)

Physics 30S

  • Electric current and circuits
  • Magnetic fields from currents
  • Right-hand rule applications
  • Newton's Laws and kinematics
  • Energy conversions

See the About page for project overview and feature summary.