What is a Mousetrap Car: “A small vehicle having its only source of motive power to be a mousetrap” (Mousetrap Car, Wikipedia)
An example of a mousetrap car
How a Mousetrap Car Works:
Diagram of a Generic Mousetrap Car
A mousetrap car doesn’t need batteries or fuel. It is powered by simply setting the trap and letting it loose. The wound spring has a ton of potential energy stored in it. The power from the spring propels the car. A rod, or lever, (typically used to snap the neck of a mouse), pulls the string wound around an axle. The string unwinds, converting the potential energy from the wound spring into kinetic energy; causing the wheels to rotate, pushing the mousetrap forward. This process basically converts the energy from the spring into rotational energy which is delivered into the wheels to make the car move.
On a frictionless surface, the car would move forever, however, since there is friction. In order to overcome the friction, the car, or anything for that matter, has to work harder. “Friction converts energy into heat and sound which removes energy from your motion, causing the vehicle to roll to a stop as its energy is removed.” (Mousetrap Cars, 2004) How fast or how far it moves is dependent upon the design of the car …show more content…
Move farther out on input side of the lever and output side moves shorter distance but with more force. With the mechanical advantage working in the opposite direction moving a short distance with more force results in less force in the output but moving a larger distance. In the mousetrap car drive axle the small circumference spun by the string wrapped around it for a relatively short length propels the much larger drive wheels a much greater distance but with small amount of force. This is why the car must roll with little friction." (Mousetrap Cars,
An example of a mousetrap car
How a Mousetrap Car Works:
Diagram of a Generic Mousetrap Car
A mousetrap car doesn’t need batteries or fuel. It is powered by simply setting the trap and letting it loose. The wound spring has a ton of potential energy stored in it. The power from the spring propels the car. A rod, or lever, (typically used to snap the neck of a mouse), pulls the string wound around an axle. The string unwinds, converting the potential energy from the wound spring into kinetic energy; causing the wheels to rotate, pushing the mousetrap forward. This process basically converts the energy from the spring into rotational energy which is delivered into the wheels to make the car move.
On a frictionless surface, the car would move forever, however, since there is friction. In order to overcome the friction, the car, or anything for that matter, has to work harder. “Friction converts energy into heat and sound which removes energy from your motion, causing the vehicle to roll to a stop as its energy is removed.” (Mousetrap Cars, 2004) How fast or how far it moves is dependent upon the design of the car …show more content…
Move farther out on input side of the lever and output side moves shorter distance but with more force. With the mechanical advantage working in the opposite direction moving a short distance with more force results in less force in the output but moving a larger distance. In the mousetrap car drive axle the small circumference spun by the string wrapped around it for a relatively short length propels the much larger drive wheels a much greater distance but with small amount of force. This is why the car must roll with little friction." (Mousetrap Cars,