If your car is a rearwheel drive car, set the wheels on a narrow rear axle so the wheels turn more and travel further. Mousetrap cars instructions construction tip cd wheels. The mouse trap requires a bit of modification to effectively power the mouse trap car project. My back wheels are cd s and my front wheels are pinewood derby racer wheels. Making your own mousetrap car is made simple with a kit. For evaluation, teams equip their racers with an intelligent brick from a lego mindstorms ev3 education core set and a hitechnic acceleration sensor. Mousetrap cars instructions construction tip increasing traction.
The snapper pulls a string that is wrapped around a wheel axle, propelling the car across the room. Instructions construction tip cd wheels mousetrap car parts. Let us be your guide for awesome rc vehicles, toys, games, models, trains, drones, and more. As the string was pulled, friction between it and the axle caused the axle to rotate, spinning the wheels and moving the car forward. However, you should make sure you dont want to use the cd anymore. Dec 18, 2012 power a car with lasercut wheels using a torsion spring. The cd wheels mass were close to the axis of rotation, giving them a small rotational inertia and allowing them to. However, if you dont want to use a kit, you can still design and build your own mousetrap car using objects you can buy at a store. Why do you put balloons on the wheels of a mousetrap car. In this tutorial, we learn how to build a simple mouse trap car. Cheap blank cds are available at most retail stores. Jul 28, 2016 upon completion of this project, students will understand the conversion of spring energy into kinetic energy as the mousetrap car is accelerated into motion. Cds make one of the cheapest and easiest to use tires for a mouse trap car.
For the physics project of building mouse trap cars, we show a way to add traction to the wheels. Do you need tools or equipment for your classroom to complete the physical build of our virtual applications. We were just assigned a project in physics to build and design a mouse trap car powered solely by the potential energy of a standars mouse trap. Okay, for physics class, we need to make a mousetrap car, and i need. Test of mousetrap racers that have cd wheels with traction. How can i decrease friction and add traction to my. Mousetrap car final paper design description our car had four cd wheels that were attached to the axle of the car with cd spacers. When the trap is released, the string pulls the wheels along at a fast rate. We used cd s for the wheels and small pieces of a straw as axels. Diy mouse trap cart is super easy and you will see that step by step process in this video. You can make mousetrap cars with almost anything, but this basic car design is best for beginners. Make rubber band powered car with recycle cd disc unique.
The pivot point is called the fulcrum, the person being lifted is the load, and the person on the other end is the effort force. The string is tied to the tip of an arm that is attached to a drive axle by a string. First, you will lay the ruler down to measure out where you are going to place the records. One way to increase the traction of a cd dvd wheel when used on slick floor is to cut the center section of a rubber balloon and stretch it around the cd dvd. I used mdf because of its rigidity and it was easy to shape into a wheel. Watch the power of physics with the 4m mousetrap racer kit. Next, you will hold these into place by using the metal rod in between the two of them. Change wheel size wheel and axle changing the size of the mousetrap car wheels. The wheels must be rigid and thin to minimize rolling resistance with the floor or ground. Jan 20, 2017 for the physics project of building mouse trap cars, we show a way to add traction to the wheels. Students will gain an understanding of the mechanical advantage developed by the large wheels and the need for friction and traction in order to achieve acceleration.
Newtons first law states that every material object continues in its state of rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless it is compelled to change that state by forces acting on it. Give your wheels some traction by stretching large rubber bands around. Let your cd wheels set so the glue can dry the cd s with your pen body attached will serve as your axel and wheels for the mousetrap. In order to built your mousetrap car, you will need. In competitions, the goal of the mousetrap car is to achieve as much forward motion as possible, on a flat surface andor on an inclined surface. In the mouse trap car the spring helps overcome the natural inertia. By using our dvd layers, your vehicle will travel 515 meters further than with regular cds dvds as wheels. Students design, build and evaluate a springpowered mouse trap racer.
Buy products related to mousetrap car products and see what customers say about mousetrap car products on free delivery possible on eligible purchases. This set will give your wheels the traction control your vehicle need in order to out accelerate and out perform the rest of the competition. Many methods can be used to build a mousetrap vehicle, and there is no one best design. Our car had four cd wheels that were attached to the axle of the car with cd spacers. A mousetrap car uses the stored energy of a mousetrap spring to generate forward motion. Doc fizzix 20x cd dvd wheel spacers for mousetrap cars. One of my sons friends stayed over yesterday and mentioned in passing hed been assigned to make a mouse trap car for. See more ideas about mouse traps, mousetrap car and car. Make rubber band powered car with recycle cd disc diy projects. Let it roll with with replaceable wheels made of recycled cd. This will help traction a great deal as cds are otherwise pretty slippery. Lubrication lubrication can help reduce friction significantly throughout the whole car.
Everything had to be things you would find lying around the house. How to build a mousetrap car with pictures wikihow. The doc fizzixs mousetrap cars use more expensive materials such as brass axles and lever arm which is better. The latest mousetrap car uses a foam block for a chassis, coat hanger wire for axles, and cd wheels. Cd dvd spacers comes in a pack of 20 cd dvd spacers with a complete stepbystep instruction guide. In an era of instant gratification and computer gaming, we see a need to provide our students with real life, interactive approaches to problem solving in the area of science. The mouse trap project frame should now roll freely on the four wheels. Of course, me being me, i want to make my car go as far as possible. See more ideas about balloon cars, stem projects and force and motion. My mousetrap car used pine wood as a frame and mdf for the wheel material.
The lever arm needs to be shorter than the distance car s because the shorter the arm is, the quicker the spring will snap, and thus more torque gets extracted from the spring. Build a mousetrap car for your science project brighthub. It is important for the wheels to have friction so they do not spin out when the mousetrap is triggered. As traction, we were going to use foamy double stick tape and put sand paper over that. Wd40 is an awesome lubricant and will significantly reduce friction and increase speed. It should be applied to the axles and wheels so that the car will move with minimal resistance. This amazing miniature car is powered along with a repurposed mousetrap spring. However, mousetrap racers is definitely a great learning tool. So you get a fast, cheap and environmentally friendly mousetrap car. The spinning wheels push the mousetrap car across the floor. If its not secure, use washers and glue to keep it in the proper. In other words, the goal is to maximize the distance traveled on both these surfaces. Please view my video response to see how to actually build the car.
Mar 15, 2012 how to build a mouse trap car a stepbystep guide. How can we improve the distance while not dramatically altering our design. Doc fizzix 20x cddvd wheel spacers for mousetrap cars. Each part used was light weight, so the car would have a greater acceleration afm. Not just for mousetrap projects, cd wheels and axles with traction control can be use for just about every possible project you can dream up including rubber band racers, balloon powered vehicles. The type of cd doesnt matter, and you can even use dvds if you like. Prime book box, a subscription that delivers editorially handpicked childrens books every 1, 2. Mousetrap car diagram label the parts of this mousetrap vehicle. The purpose of this project is to build a mouse tap car and apply it to newtons laws of motion. The frontal area of the car must be as small as possible to minimize air resistance. Worth a shot, but our projects goal was power not distance.
To add traction to cd wheels, rubber or strips of balloon can be added to the outside edge of the. It is suggested that anyone interested go to the mousetrap vehicle forum for more tips and information. Learn about converting potential energy into kinetic energy this part mousetrap, part car as it races across the floor. And dont say increase the axle to wheele ratio because i. Mouse trap car my project needs 75 mousetrap car kits 15 cars per class kit. The lever arm of the trap lifted in an arc for about five seconds, then returned to its resting position. There are many different ways to build a mousetrap car. By using dvdlayers travel distance will increase from 515 meters further for the same vehicle using cd wheels. As the string is wound around the axle, the lever arm on the mousetrap is pulled and the. Why are big wheels better for a mousetrap car answers. The wheels were attached to wooden rods using hot glue and the paint sticks used for the body were attached to the axels also using hot glue. It is not curriculum in the sense of a textbook or a unit study guide. The basic idea, is to have two cds, each with a rubber band. The body of the car was two pieces of wood that was attached by the mousetrap car sitting on top of both of the pieces of wood.
In the process, students learn about the importance of. How to build a mousetrap car 2020 stepbystep guide. Mousetrap cars are frequently used to help students learn about mechanical advantage, distance, and. Making a speed mouse trap car involves extracting the most energy you can from the mousetrap spring in a short distance. How to build a simple mouse trap car construction toys.
This is a complete set that includes four cd wheels, two axles, spacers, string, axle hook, thrust washers, and four special traction treads. Mouse trap car mousetrap car, mouse traps, physics projects. If we had four wheels the car will go straight, and with three wheels the car would turn. I have my basic design laid out, as i will attach two. In the powered stage, we wanted to increase traction. The mouse trap bar was cut near the far side of the spring and bent straight. A mousetrap car is a vehicle that is powered by the energy that can be stored in a wound up mousetrap spring. Cut the mouse trap snappers arm at the corner at which the mouse trap spring is attached and remove the locking bar as well. I draw this mousetrap car in my class so i just uploaded here im not that good in solidwork. Mousetrap vehicle science olympiad student center wiki. Body balsawood, bass wood, styrofoam, plastic, aluminum, etc. Everyone was given the same mousetrap not rattraps allowed so that each car had the same engine.
I thought about how i had lots of fun making those way back and decided to make one out of scraps off my desk and documen. I would suggest testing on an inconspicuous area of whatever driving surface you have before. The design of your car allowed that energy to be transferred to the axle to make the wheels turn. This means you are essentially helping out the environment by using these. Helpfile how to put tyres on cds for model car projects.
Mousetrap car kits, parts, and accessories whitebox. The main focus is distance, and so that is what i am aiming for. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. A mousetrap makes use of a simple machine called a lever. If we use large wheels we will be able to cover more surface area than with small wheels. The lack of grip from cds and dvds when used as wheels is often an issue for various car projects such as rubber band powered cars or mousetrap cars. When i made mine i used record wheels in back cds in front and the arm dragged a bit when the coil unraveled. Stretch the balloon around the cd edges and violla. One of the best materials you can use for your mousetrap car is using old cds.
Loraffe battery powered under hood animal repeller led rodent strobe light mousetrap vehicle car kits bulk pack of 12 kits project kits for building teachergeek mousetrap powered vehicle stem steam activity kit 10 pack. In its most basic form, a mousetrap car consists of four wheels, a mousetrap, and a string. Cds and dvds recycling how to recycle your old cds into useful stuff. When the trap snapped closed, it yanked the string forward. The size of the wheels is an important part of mousetrap cars. Mousetrap racers cd wheelaxle with traction treads. This will depend on how the mousetrap car is constructed, but there would most likely be.
My wheels were drilled out in the middle which allowed my car to roll farther because of rotational inertia. A firstclass lever is like a teetertotter at the park. Unlike when its in mouse catching mode, the mousetrap wont clamp on your finger and turn it into a throbbing purplish mess that is, if the trap is set up properly. We now have a handy toolkit builder to help you select what you need. A mousetrap car is powered by the energy of a woundup mousetrap s spring. Stepbystep instructions to build a mouse trap car our.
The string attached to the antenna tip winds around the drive wheel. Mouse trap car find great kits and plans to build a classic. A mousetrap car built for distance will have larger wheels travels a longer distance per turn, a longer lever arm increase the distance the car is able to travel, a smaller axle delivers more torque to the drive wheels and may be larger, due to the larger size of the wheels. For example, old cds make great wheels to increase distance. To adapt your mousetrap car for distance, use large, light wheels for less friction and greater inertia. Earth shattering secrets for building winning mousetrap powered cars, boats, racers, and other mouse trap powered vehicles. To build a mousetrap car, start by making 4 wheels out of heavy cardboard or foam core.
How to build a mouse trap car a stepbystep guide hubpages. Carefully remove the teeth from the mousetrap, then fashion a chassis from heavy cardboard and attach the trap to the chassis with duct tape. A mousetrap car makes for a great science project, physics classroom experiment, or a fun weekend activity. We designed and created small cars powered by nothing but a mousetrap and using no toy parts or hobby kits. Because it must pull against the string coiled around the wheels, the trap closes much more slowly than normal. Wheel and axle items that influence force and energy on objects. As the spring raises the antenna, the string spins the drive wheel and the car goes forward. Make sure you change the wheels, that are the wheels that drive the car. Cds wrapped with rubber bands or balloon pieces for traction are a cheap and easy option. If the wheels are misaligned, the car will be working against itself and energy will be lost in the most visible sense, misaligned wheels also mean the car wont go in the desired direction for distance and power cars, misaligned wheels over time can cause the car to leave the track or ramp for accuracy cars, even a.
Our special dvd layer package includes everything you need including wheels, axles, spacers, and thrust washers to insure that your mousetrap car is a winner. Feb 17, 2020 to adapt your mousetrap car for distance, use large, light wheels for less friction and greater inertia. If your car is a rear wheel drive car, set the wheels on a narrow rear axle so the wheels turn more and travel further. Stretch them over two of the cds, which will later be the back wheels. I would like to know exactly what equations im going to need. This design works well but it was designed mainly to be inexpensive.
The traction, or the grip of the car s wheels on the floor, will determine the mousetrap car s maximum acceleration. Find great kits and plans to build a classic mouse trap car. One of my sons friends stayed over yesterday and mentioned in passing hed been assigned to make a mouse trap car for school. Traction is only an issue for those mousetrap vehicle contest that. I used bearings that i soaked in wd40 to reduce friction between the axle and the frame.
But the drive wheels must additionally provide enough traction so that they dont slip when the car is accelerating. Mousetrap racers cd wheelaxle with traction treads doc fizzix. A mouse trap car is a kind of racing car that operates by pulling a string attached to a set of wheels and the spring of the trap. Brass tubing was used for axles which fit the ball bearings and into the rubber washers which were used for the wheel hubs. How can i decrease friction and add traction to my mousetrap car. Define the following terms engineering potential energy kinetic energy friction inertia newtons 1st law of motion newtons 2nd law of motion axle chassis 2. They use acceleration data collected during the launch to compute velocity and displacement vs. This mousetrap car project demonstrates how potential energy is converted into. Not just for mousetrap vehicle projects, cd dvd spacers wheels can be use for just about every possible project you can dream up including rubber band racers, balloon powered vehicles, and so much more. Mar 02, 2005 for our physics project senior in high school, we have to build cars driven by nothing other than mouse traps, and they have to propel the cars at least 10 meters.
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