How far should a mousetrap car go?
The length of the string is about 25″. Therefore the string can be wrapped around the dowel 25/0.785 = About 31.8 times. So the minimum distance travelled will be the number of times the string can wrap around the dowel multiplied by the circumference of the wheels, which is 31.8 x 14.92 = 474.456″, or about 39.5ft!
What is the best way to design a mousetrap car for distance?
Using large rear wheels allow one rotation of the axle to take the car a much further distance. In other words, a given length of the string from the mousetrap moves the car a greater distance. The last note is to place your mousetrap as close to the front of the car as possible.
How do you make a long distance mousetrap car?
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.
What happens if the mousetrap is mounted too far from the drive axle?
What happens if the mousetrap is mounted too far from the drive axle? You will lose pulling force or energy to friction. The energy goes too quickly and you lose pulling force.
Is it better to have a heavier or lighter mousetrap car?
A heavy mousetrap vehicle will required more pulling force than a lighter mousetrap vehicle in order to achieve an equal acceleration. Lighter mousetrap vehicles will require less energy at the start and can use longer lever arms for more pulling distance.
How does wheel size affect mousetrap car performance?
By changing the size of the drive wheel(s) you can speed-up or slow-down your mousetrap vehicle. With speed-trap racers smaller wheels will have a shorter travel distance per turn but will be much easier to accelerate and will require less pulling force to achieve the same acceleration as a larger wheel.
Are Bigger wheels better for mousetrap car?
Larger drive wheels will have a greater travel distance per each turn compared to smaller drive wheel. It would make sense to use a super huge drive wheel so for each turn of this massive drive wheel the mousetrap vehicle will travel an incredible distance.
What are the instructions for mouse trap?
Mouse Trap Instructions Release the arm bar from the staple. Move the arm bar to the back of the trap so it hangs over the back of the trap. Apply a small amount of high-protein bait, such as peanut butter, hazelnut spread or bacon to the yellow plastic pedal on the trap as shown.
How do mousetrap cars work?
The mousetrap powered car works by changing the kinetic energy (of a loaded mousetrap) into kinetic energy (when the trap springs). The jaw snapping shut pulls the string, which makes the axles turn, which spins the tires-propelling the car forward.
What is a mouse trap?
mouse trap. [′mau̇s ‚trap] (engineering) A cylindrical fishing tool having the open bottom end fitted with an inward opening valve.
What is a trap car?
A bait car, also called a decoy car, hot car or trap car, is a vehicle used by law enforcement agencies to capture car thieves or thieves who steal items from cars.