What is the purpose of the mousetrap car project?
What is the purpose of the mousetrap car project?
The mousetrap car project is a classic physics challenge: Build a vehicle that can travel as far as possible by using only the energy from a single mousetrap. Seems simple enough, but the reason it’s so popular is because it’s rich in science concepts, applied math, and design possibilities.
How do you make a simple mouse trap car?
Build a Mousetrap Car
- Step 1: Materials. 2 pieces of Cardboard (4” x 10”) many dimensions will work, but this is a good starting place.
- Step 2: Car Body.
- Step 3: Attach the Straws.
- Step 4: The Mousetrap.
- Step 5: Preparing the Wheels.
- Step 6: Adding the Axles and Wheels.
- Step 7: Attaching the Hook to the Rear Axle.
How do you make a mousetrap car go the farthest?
Mousetrap cars will go farther if the spring has more distance from the back wheels. Create traction on the wheels. Add rubber bands, or tape around the wheels to give them better traction. The better the wheels can grip the floor, the farther the mousetrap car will go.
How do mousetrap racers work?
A basic mousetrap car is powered by attaching a string to the “snap” lever on the trap, looping the other end to a small hook on the axle, winding the string around the axle of the car pulling back on the lever and arming it. There are many of variations of how to attach a mousetrap to drive the wheels.
How does Newton’s 3rd law apply to a mousetrap car?
Newton’s third Law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. As the mousetrap car moved across the floor, gravity was pushing it down and the car was pushing the floor up also, car pushes floor backward, floor pushes car forward.
What materials do you need to build a mousetrap car?
What You Need:
- Wooden snap-back mousetrap.
- Duct tape.
- 4 eye hooks.
- Wooden dowel that fits inside the eye hooks.
- Heavy cardboard.
- Large and small rubber bands.
- Foam board (usually found at a craft store)
- String.
What wheels are best for a mousetrap car?
Use thin, light wheels.
- Old CDs or DVDs work fairly well for this purpose — they’re large, thin, and extremely light.
- If you have access to old vinyl, these also work extremely well, though they may be too heavy for the smallest mousetraps.
What forces are acting on a mousetrap car?
A moving mousetrap car is affected by two type of friction: airfriction and bearing friction. Airfriction is a large factor only with cars that are moving fast and is nearly negligible for slow-moving distance cars; therefore, in this lab you will only take bearing friction into consideration.
Can a mousetrap be used to power a car?
Mousetraps can be used to power a car! This project results in a simple mousetrap car. It probably won’t go very far or fast, but you can see how stored, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. When you’re finished with this project, you can try building a more complex car with the suggestions listed at the end of the article.
How do you attach a mousetrap to a frame?
Use small micro bolts or Doc FIzzix hold down bolts for attaching. the basic kit: using Doc FIzzix’s Basic kit, start with a 12-inch lever arm and attach the mousetrap to the frame with hold down bolts. Mark out a 5-meter course in a hallway to other large area sufficient enough to test your mousetrap racer.
How to reposition a mouse trap in a car?
It is recommended to use the Doc FIzzix Basic Mousetrap Powered Car kit with hold down bolts. adjust lever arm: using a dremal or another appropriate cutting tool shorten the length of the mouse trap’s lever arm. reposition: the mouse trap is repositioned closer to the drive axle each time the lever arm is shortened.
What happens when you release energy from a mousetrap?
the rate of energy release. If the energy from the mousetrap is released quickly, your car will accelerate quickly and run faster. However, it will also run out of energy sooner. If the energy from the mousetrap is released slowly, the car will move slower, but be powered for a longer distance.
