What is the science behind mousetrap cars?
What is the science behind mousetrap cars?
The basics The mousetrap storespotential energyin the form of the spring. That potential energy is converted into kinetic energy in the form of the arm rotating forward. The arm pulls on the wound-up string, which turns the drive wheel dowel, which is connected to the wheels, which makes the car drive forward.
What forces are used in 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.
How far do mousetrap cars usually travel?
The average distance the rattap car went was 18.6875ft and the average distance the mousetrap car went was 25.5ft.
Who invented mouse trap cars?
Hiram Maxim
Mousetrap/Inventors
What makes a mousetrap car stop?
The lock-nut braking system uses a wing-nut that travels along a threaded axle. As the threaded axle turns a wing nut travels along the threaded axle until it lock tight against the frame of the vehicle, or the axle, causing the vehicle to come to an instant stop.
How is energy conserved in a mousetrap car?
Friction converts the energy of a moving objects into heat and sound and this will eventually causes a moving object to come to a stop. Energy is not destroyed by this process but it is being converted into heat and sound.
Why does a mousetrap car stop?
How big should the body of a mousetrap car be?
between 10 and 15 inches
The ideal size for an ultra big wheel on a long distance mousetrap racer seams to be somewhere between 10 and 15 inches. And the ideal size for a drive wheel on a speed-trap racer seams to be between 2 and 3 inches but no more than 4 inches.
What is the history of the mousetrap car?
2 History. James Henry Atkinson, a British scientist, invented the mousetrap in 1897. His invention, known as the “Little Nipper,” received a patent in 1897. The mousetrap was the prototype of the mousetrap car.
Where does friction occur in a mousetrap car?
Axle Points
Axle Points The number one point of friction on any mousetrap car is where the axle system comes in contact with the frame of the vehicle. In most cases an axle will be in direct contact with the frame and there is a lot that can be done to decrease the friction at this contact point.
How long should a mousetrap car be?
How do you make a mouse trap car?
Put the large wheels on the back of the car, opposite the snapper arm. Wrap a small rubber band around the axle on either side of each wheel so the wheels can’t fall off. Tie a string very tightly to the snapper arm on the mouse trap. The string should be long enough to just reach to the back axle.
What is needed to build a mouse trap car?
In order to build a mousetrap car you will need a few things. To start off simple, use these items: Mousetrap. Dowell rods and Wheels (anything really can be used here like knex wheels and rods, lego tires and rods, tinker toys are great too.)
How to make a mousetrap car?
Materials
How to build a mouse trap car?
Use Large Rear Wheels. Because large wheels have a greater rotational inertia,they’re harder to stop rolling once they start.
