Does a faster mousetrap car mean a further distance? A speedy mousetrap car will have smaller wheels (faster acceleration), a shorter lever arm (increased torque, but smaller travel distance), a larger axle (increased acceleration) and
Does a faster mousetrap car mean a further distance?
A speedy mousetrap car will have smaller wheels (faster acceleration), a shorter lever arm (increased torque, but smaller travel distance), a larger axle (increased acceleration) and will generally be smaller to decrease air resistance. Use a longer pole/stick attached to the mousetrap’s hammer.
How fast is the fastest mousetrap car?
Description: The Speed-Trap Racer is the fastest mousetrap powered racer anywhere and was designed after Doc Fizzix’s own record-setting mousetrap racer that traveled 5 meters in 1.2 seconds.
What is the force of a mousetrap car?
Mousetrap cars start with a limited supply of energy. This energy is used to overcome friction and propel the vehicle. This combined frictional force will be called the rolling friction. The smaller the coefficient of friction, the more efficient your mousetrap car and the greater the travel distance will be.
Is it better to have a lighter or heavier 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.
What kind of string do you use for a mousetrap car?
The string has to be strong enough to handle the pulling force but flexible and thin enough to wind tightly around the drive axle. We recommend using a Kevlar based fishing line because its high strength. You should stay away from nylon fishing line and dental floss, these do not work well with mousetrap racers.
What forces act 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.
What makes a mousetrap car go farther?
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. In non-technical terms, this means that the same force from the mousetrap on each snap gets exerted over a longer string pull.
How do you slow down a mousetrap car?
If instead the mousetrap vehicle is shins it’s wheels when placed on the ground, or traveling two fast causing it to have to much friction, you may have to increase the length of the mouse trap’s lever arm and reposition the mouse trap away from the drive axle in order to slow the vehicle down and decrease the pulling …
How do you make a mousetrap car go faster?
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 does a mousetrap run a car?
What is a Mouse-Trap Car and How does it Work? A mouse-trap car is a vehicle that is powered by the energy that can be stored in a wound up mouse-trap spring. The most basic design is as follows: a string is attached to a mouse-trap’s lever arm and then the string is wound around a drive axle causing the mouse-trap’s spring to be under tension.
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 does a mousetrap car 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.