Mrs. Walker's Mousetrap Car Project
Mike's Award Winning Creation
(It's an old picture, but I love the fly swatter!)
Click the above link to see a winning mousetrap car!
The challenge is to build a car
that is
powered by the spring of a single mousetrap. Rat traps are not
allowed.
The car cannot be powered by CO2 cartridges, rubber bands,
elastic, or
anything other than the mousetrap sold to you (at cost) in class. This
will ensure that everyone starts on a level playing field if all are
using the same type of mousetrap. DO NOT alter the mousetrap spring by
adding additional turns. This will disqualify your car.
It is
suggested that you do not glue the trap on your car. If it breaks, you
will have to begin the project all over again. Fasten the trap on with
screws, bolts, or tape instead. Most traps have not
broken. Sometimes the lever arm goes limp. The wire overlapping the
lever arm has simply slipped off.
Re-attachment is simple. The trap base is hard
wood, so you will have
to drill a hole first. If you take notes in class on the day we
brainstorm car
design, the project is really quite simple! Avoid procrastination.
We
have full confidence in your ability to ace this assignment. You will
have the opportunity to
view example cars in class, brainstorm car designs in class, watch last
years competition, consult with your teacher, and bring your car
in early to try it in the science hallway. The photos, video clips, and
links provided below are intended to encourage your own creativity and
success. They show both good and bad examples for educational purposes.
These pages are intended to also benefit students who were absent from
class on
the day we discussed how to build a car. (Thus, absent students have
missed nothing if they view these web pages.)You
will
be graded as follows. We have been studying energy and translational
motion. Therefore, the potential energy of a mousetrap car is contained
in the spring. The energy must be changed from potential to kinetic
energy (or motion) in order for you to receive any points. It is not
enough simply to have built a car. Your car must move! Your grade is determined by having
followed the directions given you in class and in this rubric. Your car
must be original to you. You must have built it. You may not use a kit
purchased on-line or at a local hobby store to fulfill this assignment.
This will earn you an F. (Beware: We have photographs and videotape of
all former cars from other classes and other teachers. Trying to
pass off a car from
a prior year will earn you an F. We also have pictures and examples of
available
kits.) Part of the assignment is having met the due date given by your
teacher. Building the car early will help you to avoid unforeseen
circumstances. This assignment is an application of what was learned
when studying energy. It's one of the really fun parts of this course!
So please enjoy it!
Mousetrap
Car Grading
Sheet
(click the link to the left to print a copy of the rubric)
1.
Homework: MTCP Worksheets Link: click here
Assignment #1
#1 How Fast? Homework
(Worksheet)
#2 How Far? Homework
(Worksheet)
Assignment #2
#3 Blue
Print/Rough Draft In class (Worksheet)
#4 Shopping List/
Who is
responsible for what? (Worksheet)
Circle
pts
2.
In-Class work
I.
Date:
_____/_____/_____
Assignment
#1
How fast/far (Due today)
0pts 6pts 12pts
Assignment
#2
B.P. & S.L (Due today)
0pts
6pts 12pts
II.
Date:
_____/_____/_____
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
pts
Shopping List
Materials Brought
to Class
Pre-race points:__________/30
Race
Day
1.
Car = If you put a car on the
starting line and it
doesn’t move
= 20pts
2.
Car = If you put a car on the
starting line and
it moves (wheel must be on the
floor)
= 30pts
3.
Greatest distance the mousetrap
car moved
from the starting line: ___________meters
Distance Range:
Points:
1.01 to 2.00 meters =
35pts=65
2.01 to 3.00 meters =
40pts=70
3.01 to 4.00 meters =
45pts=75
4.01 to 5.00 meters =
50pts=80
5.01 to 6.00 meters =
55pts=85
6.01 to 7.00 meters =
60pts=90
7.01 to 8.00 meters =
65pts=95
8.01 to….
70pts =100
4.
Length
I.
1stTrial =
___________________meters
II.
2nd Trial =
___________________meters
III.
3rd Trial =
___________________meters
Extra Credit: longest
distance in class 5
bonus points
Distance Range:
Points:
1.01 to 2.00 meters =
35pts=65
2.01 to 3.00 meters =
40pts=70
3.01 to 4.00 meters =
45pts=75
4.01 to 5.00 meters =
50pts=80
5.01 to 6.00 meters =
55pts=85
6.01 to 7.00 meters =
60pts=90
7.01 to 8.00 meters =
65pts=95
8.01 to….
70pts =100
Extra Credit: longest distance in
all classes 10
points
___________ Total Points
5.
Most creative or “Prettiest” car as
voted by class.
(10
points)
___________ Bonus Points
6.
Car "Donated to Science"
(5pts)
___________
Bonus Points
Note: Thirty point (30) limit
for bonus points earned by any one student, and maximum possible of 130
total points.
Pre-race pts:
__________/30
+
Base
Distance pts:
__________/70
=
Total
Score: _________/100
(Max
Score = 130pts)
Use
all the
links and
information listed below. A little research goes a long way. Do not use
constructs, erector sets, or legos to build your car. You can
buy aluminum, brass, or wooden rods. Parts can be purchased separately.
The best cars are home made. It's best to ask your teacher first,
so that your car isn't disqualified. If in doubt about those parts,
please ask. It is your responsibility to ask
for clarification if you need it. Don't assume. Do not use cars from
previously graded pine wood derby or wood shop projects. Previous Boy
Scout "Pinewood Derby" cars would
also
be unacceptable. Do not try and pass off a siblings car or
friends from a prior year. The consequence will still be an F. Do not
have someone else build a car for you. The car must be built by
you.
If you begin early, the project will not be difficult. Do not simply
build something that you saw on youtube. Some have tried to copy such a
car and it didn't work. Again, listen to your teacher while they are
coaching you in class on this assignment. Take notes. Research on your
own. Do not wait
until the
last minute. Start early! Test
your car before the due date. You should bring
it to school and take advantage of the long hallways for your
test run. If you do
not have a functioning car on the day they are due, you have not meet
the requirements. There will be no time extensions. All cars
are due at the beginning of your particular class period.
The movie reel was a great idea.
This car is the one in
the video clip listed above.
Cute,
but don't block the lever
arm.
The theme is a "mousetrap" car.
This was an
"A" ... all the way down the hall.
Physics
Scholar
from
Ontario Canada:
"International Studies"
(Tracked Mrs.
Walker through e-mail)
Some of the challenges you will
need to
overcome are gravity, friction, and weight distribution. The first
decision you
will need to make concerns your ultimate goal. Is it speed or distance?
Each
will require a different lever arm length and tires. It is best to
experiment
with several different lengths for your lever arm. When considering
speed,
think in terms of a small lightweight car with a short lever arm that
snaps
quickly. The mousetrap imparts the energy to the car quickly. Think
foam
or rubber tires. The car
travels
at a rather high speed and coasts to a stop. Make sure your car travels
the 5 meter minimum. This is harder to do when building a car for
speed. If distance is the goal, you may consider
extending the
length
of the lever arm. This slows the speed of the car, but allows the
axle to
be pulled for a longer period of time. Check the links below to
discover the
perfect lever arm length. Experiment with different types of string and
wheels. It
really does make a difference.
Listed below are a few of the links I discovered that include tips on how to build a mousetrap car. If you are unsure about a particular design, ASK your teacher! The links are not provided for you to copy someone else's car, but to stimulate your thinking.
http://www.docfizzix.com/design-help/index.shtmlYou'll find
good tips
on Doc
Fizzix’s site
on how to correct problems that arise after you have finished your car.
His tips will
allow you to decide if you want to build a car with speed as your goal
or
distance. DO NOT BUY A MOUSETRAP CAR, WHEEL KIT, WHEEL SPACER KIT
(THE BLACK PLUMBING WASHERS), OR ANY COMBINATION OF PIECES FROM THIS
SITE, ANY OTHER
WEB SITE, OR HOBBY STORE SELLING SUCH. DOING SO WILL WIN YOU AN “F”
ON THE
PROJECT. PIECES FROM KITS ARE NOT ALLOWED. Again, do not purchase
a kit locally or on-line. Please do use Doc's site to problem
solve once you've built your car and need to tweak it. Most of the
information in Doc's books is available on-line on the docfizzix web
site. This is where to go for help problem solving a car that doesn't
move. You can usually get the books through inter-library loan too. I
do own two of Doc Fizzix's books though and they were well worth
purchasing.
http://www.docfizzix.com/topics/resources/Here's a fantastic place to go for multiple web sites with building ideas. There are a multitude of photographs, video clips, and building tips. The web sites listed are the docfizzix top picks. (Of course the fact that mine is included is a bonus :-)
Don't use kits or any parts from kits. Save all receipts.
Instead, use these:
Here are some additional tips that will help you to understand how the car works and what to do to build one. Buy a book, not a car kit. Or use this title to check a book out of your public library.
Actually, this car will not go very far. The design isn't as good as you might think. (I've seen several on youtube that are duds too. I've included this link to show you that you can't believe everything that you read on the Internet. So rather than trust someone else with your grade, why don't you just give it some thought for yourself? You can do it! The one thing that I do like about this information though, is the fact that you don't have to spend a bundle to make a functioning car. You can use simple things that you already have around the house. Students tend to think that the only acceptable wheel is a CD. This isn't true. Think round! Paper and plastic plates are round. There are plastic lids, records, wire spools etc. Large 33 1/3 records do need weight reduction to be effective though. The Dremel is a crafter's friend if you own one and want to use the 33 1/3 records.
http://cpphysics.homestead.com/mousetrapg.html
Many of the links on the above mentioned link
take you to
Doc’s web site.
However,
there are some excellent photos of students with their finished cars.
You may
find some additional ideas here.
Consider
wheel diameter
carefully!
Light weight is a good idea.
Simple and light.
Cool lever arm, but heavy body.
Electrical tape for traction.
Awesome spinners !
Lengthen body to improve car.
Do
not use these!
Painted
immovable
wheels! Beware.
Mr. Chissus'
Mousetrap Car (front)
A
car built from
constructs, legos,
or erector set pieces is unacceptable. Ask
your teacher if in doubt.
Creativity
can earn extra points!
Tread is good for traction.
Think
"Green". Love the paint job!
These
wheels were too small though.
Longer bodies will use longer lever arms.
Plywood is heavy.
Small wheels yield
short distances.
Research the length
of that lever arm.
Choose lighter materials.
Length
can have advantages, it all depends.
More weight
requires more energy to move the car.
The body was a paint stick.
Mrs.
Walker's 2nd car.
Insulation is light
and was clever.
Holes drilled to lighten the car. Body was too heavy, but awesome wheels.
Metal frames are okay too. Research gear advantages. "Be-dazzle" that car for those creativity points.
This car was
graded twice. It's not a good idea
Einstein would be
proud!
An art scholar's
car!
to try and recycle a car from a
previous year. It
earns an "F" the second time around.
This car won the creativity award! Video link to the above car
Dane's 38.8 meters run!
Boxes can be very useful.
Apparently the due date was well understood!
Mrs. Walker's 3rd Mousetrap Car.
Can you beat its best run of
32.85 meters?
Mrs. Walker's 3rd mousetrap car was eventually upgraded and modified. I'll give my students 5 extra credit points if you can beat my best run. The 1st video clip shows the car going 35.37 meters and then rolling back to 33.64 meters. My next run was 34.4 meters. Top that for the points.
Link To Mrs. Walker's Home Page
Page Created and maintained by Nicole J. Walker
Last Updated: 7 Jan 2013
