Library Research
The concept behind torsion spring powered alternative energy vehicles can be understood through a widely used high school physics experiment—the mousetrap car model (Roberts & Gonzalez-Espada, 2006, p. 15). The mousetrap model is very straightforward (Jumper, 2012, p. 137). A bow with a lever arm is installed in the model car, and this lever arm is then connected to the car’s rear axle with string. At rest, when potential energy is at its lowest, the lever arm is leaning towards the front axle. This is the case when the string is not wound up. The car is wound up by rotating the rear axle so as to wind the string tightly and completely to the point where the lever arm is pulled fully back towards the rear axle. A downward pressure on the car is then applied to hold the wound up string in place, and then the pressure is released to allow the pent up potential energy to convert to kinetic energy, rapidly unwinding the string and in doing so rotating the rear axle and propelling the mousetrap car forward. …show more content…
16). The objective is to optimize the interaction between the chassis, front and rear wheel systems, bow and spring, lever arm, and string, in order to maximize speed and distance. Due to the diversity of design decisions, it is non-obvious how to optimally design the system, and at the same time it creates a space for creativity to lead to surprising innovations. Jumper (2012) notes that this involves the application of a combination of related scientific principles, including Newton’s laws, understanding the relationship between potential and kinetic energy, dissipative force, and rotational mechanics (p.
The concept behind torsion spring powered alternative energy vehicles can be understood through a widely used high school physics experiment—the mousetrap car model (Roberts & Gonzalez-Espada, 2006, p. 15). The mousetrap model is very straightforward (Jumper, 2012, p. 137). A bow with a lever arm is installed in the model car, and this lever arm is then connected to the car’s rear axle with string. At rest, when potential energy is at its lowest, the lever arm is leaning towards the front axle. This is the case when the string is not wound up. The car is wound up by rotating the rear axle so as to wind the string tightly and completely to the point where the lever arm is pulled fully back towards the rear axle. A downward pressure on the car is then applied to hold the wound up string in place, and then the pressure is released to allow the pent up potential energy to convert to kinetic energy, rapidly unwinding the string and in doing so rotating the rear axle and propelling the mousetrap car forward. …show more content…
16). The objective is to optimize the interaction between the chassis, front and rear wheel systems, bow and spring, lever arm, and string, in order to maximize speed and distance. Due to the diversity of design decisions, it is non-obvious how to optimally design the system, and at the same time it creates a space for creativity to lead to surprising innovations. Jumper (2012) notes that this involves the application of a combination of related scientific principles, including Newton’s laws, understanding the relationship between potential and kinetic energy, dissipative force, and rotational mechanics (p.