What is the key to a quick start with a mousetrap car?

Lever Arm Basics

Shortening the length of the lever arm increases the pulling force but decrease the amount of string that can be pulled from the drive axle. Understanding this basic concept is the key to building a successful mousetrap powered vehicle.

How do you start a mousetrap car?

How do I make my mousetrap car accelerate faster?

Increase the size of the axle.

The greater the ratio of the diameter of the axle to the wheel, the less force will be required to accelerate the car. In other words, you should match a larger axle with a smaller wheel to increase acceleration.

What makes a mousetrap car go further?

Making a mousetrap car go as far as possible relies on a few guiding design principles. … 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.

How does a basic mousetrap car work?

A mousetrap car works on the principle of a lever. One end of the lever is connected to a spring. When a force is used to pull up the other end of the lever up, the spring tightens, storing energy. When the lever is released, the stored energy in the spring is transferred back to the lever, and the end snaps back.

What is the physics behind a mousetrap car?

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 is the fastest mousetrap car?

Speed-Trap Racer
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.

How long should 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.

How do you make a good mousetrap car?

How do you make a rat trap car?

What wheels should I use for a mousetrap car?

As you might guess, the materials used to build mousetrap-powered cars are light out of necessity. Foamcore board or balsa wood are often used for the body. The wheels can be off-the-shelf radio-controlled car wheels, but many builders use blank CDs or DVDs because their thin edges reduce friction.

What do you use for axles on a mousetrap car?

A mousetrap car can be made from cardboard or balsa wood with CD’s for wheels and axles of wood or brass tubing.

What is axle tramp?

Axle tramp occurs when the right and left side wheels hoping out of phase [11]. Tramp is an undesirable nonlinear vibration of the live axle in a car which is affected by suspension’s vertical stiffness, mass of components and internal frictions.

How does a mousetrap car use torque?

As torque relates to a mousetrap-powered vehicle, a torque is applied to the wheels by pulling the wound string from the drive axle. The mouse trap’s lever arm applies a force to the drive axle that causes the drive axle to pivot or rotate thereby causing the vehicle to move.

How do you make a mousetrap car step by step?

Build a Mousetrap Car
  1. Step 1: Materials. 2 pieces of Cardboard (4” x 10”) many dimensions will work, but this is a good starting place. …
  2. Step 2: Car Body. …
  3. Step 3: Attach the Straws. …
  4. Step 4: The Mousetrap. …
  5. Step 5: Preparing the Wheels. …
  6. Step 6: Adding the Axles and Wheels. …
  7. Step 7: Attaching the Hook to the Rear Axle.

Why is my mousetrap car not going straight?

If your mousetrap car does not travel straight energy is also being wasted to over come the force of friction turning the vehicle’s wheels. If a mousetrap vehicle is not traveling straight then there is one reason and one reason only: the front and rear axles are not parallel to one another!

Where is torque experienced in a mousetrap car?

force to the drive axle through the pulling string. This in turn causes a torque to be produced around the drive axle.