Contents.ObjectivesUsing knowledge of gear ratios, torque, and basic physics concepts, design and build a vehicle that is powered by a standard mousetrap that will travel the farthest linear distance in a competition against other designs.OverviewVehicles move by propulsion, which is a form of energy conversion from a stored form into movement. The most common means of propulsion is to release the chemical energy in petroleum products to cause movement. The internal combustion engine in most automobiles works this way. Small radio-controlled cars use propulsion when the chemical energy stored in batteries is converted into electricity, and this electricity drives an electric motor that moves the car.A recent development in automobiles is hybrid propulsion that combines an internal combustion engine and a battery to power a car. With a hybrid car, the battery is used when not much power is needed, and the internal combustion engine is only used when more power is required for acceleration or to recharge the battery.In many machines, including cars, gears assist by transferring mechanical energy from one gear to another.

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A gearing system, which uses multiple gears, has a measurable characteristic called a gear ratio. A gear ratio is calculated by counting the number of teeth on the input gear, or the initial gear in the system, and dividing that number by the number of teeth on the output gear, or the final gear in the system. When a system uses wheels or pulleys, the diameter of the gears is used.Almost any energy source can be used for propulsion with enough ingenuity.

For example, a wind-up toy car converts the energy from muscles by winding up the spring and that energy is converted into motion when the car is released.A mousetrap car (Figure 1) is a vehicle that uses a mousetrap as its propulsion source. In a mousetrap car, a string is attached to the lever arm of the mousetrap and the other end of the string is attached to the drive axle. Figure 2: A possible mousetrap car design. Forces Involved in a Mousetrap CarFriction: This is the force that resists the motion of two surfaces in contact. In a mousetrap car, power can be lost due to friction between the axles and chassis and between the wheels and the ground. Not all friction is bad; friction that prevents the wheels from slipping is called traction.

In general, a design should reduce friction, but have enough traction so that the wheels do not slip.Rotational Inertia: This is the resistance an object has to changes in rotation. The mass of the object affects the rotational inertia, the greater the mass, the greater the rotational inertia. Figure 5: Comparison of rotational inertia. Competition Rules. Only the Lego parts provided may be used. The vehicle must be powered solely by the mousetrap provided.

The vehicle must have at least one wheel (no projectiles allowed). The mousetrap spring must not be physically altered. The vehicle may not receive a push at the start. The vehicle cannot be touched once it has left the starting position. Displacement distance will be measured; not the total distance traveled. If the car hits another object (e.g.

My eldest son has come home twice now with instructions from a teacher to build a mousetrap car. There is a lot on the internet that provides video and instructions. The following is the result of the modifications made to various designs seen and improvements made from the first try to the most recent version of this vehicle. A warning: mousetraps are delicate instruments of death to the unwary mouse.

Even following the instructions given may result in fingers being snapped accidentally and it will hurt. Slow and steady, as they say, wins the race.

Following these instructions but working slowly and carefully and having an extra body around for assistance should reduce or eliminate finger or other bodily damage! Fit a pencil through a pop tab, both eye hooks, and the second pop tab. Center the pencil and mark each side of the pencil about 1 to 1½ inches out from each eye hook.7.

Wrap electrical tape carefully around the pencil at the mark. Position the CD hole over the tape periodically and stop wrapping when the CD will fit snugly onto the wrapped tape.8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the other short side of the mousetrap but make sure the interior axle-length of this side is longer than created in Steps 6 and 7.

Drill a hole through the center of the pencil (on the 'mouse' side of the mousetrap).10. Make sure the pop tabs are very close to the eye hooks and then pinch the cut ends of the pop tabs to the pencil to keep the pencil (axle) from shifting side ways. Bend the tabs away from the eye hooks if necessary to allow the pencil to rotate freely. Make sure the pencil can rotate freely. Repeat this step with the other two pop tabs for the opposite axle.11.

Using pliers, straighten the bar from the point it meets the top of the mousetrap towards the inside so it will not interfere with the motion of either wheel. Measure the fishing wire from the tip of the bar to about two inches past the tip of the mouse's nose.13.

If you have not already done so, remove the straight bar anchored at the tip of the mouse's nose.14. Cover the edges of the back wheels (mouse points to these!) with electrical tape to reduce slippage at take-off.15. Slip the fishing wire through the hole drilled through the pencil in Step 9 and knot it securely.16. Make a loop at the top of the straight bar.17. Tie the other end of the fishing wire to the loop at the top of the bar and secure it with electrical tape. Rotate the back wheels slowly to wrap the fishing line around the axle (pencil) until the line is taut.2. Pull back the bar and continue winding again until the wire is taut (potential energy for the vehicle is obtained in these steps).3.

Hold onto the back wheels and place the car onto smooth ground in an area where there is ample room (at least 20 feet of horizontal distance).4.Let go of the wheels and watch your car speed away.5. If the car does not travel in a straight line, adjustments must be made. Check the pop tabs to make sure the axles cannot move from side to side. Ensure that the axles are aligned properly. If you did not ensure that the eye hooks were level with each other your vehicle will not travel in a straight line.Most importantly, have fun! Rome wasn't built in a day and your mousetrap vehicle may not be built in an hour.

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