Table of Contents
How do you set up a mousetrap mousetrap car?
For optimal performance the mouse trap should be positioned on the chassis so that the tip of the lever arm falls directly above the drive axle when the mouse trap is in the fully wound position (as pictured bellow). If the mouse trap is not aligned properly with the drive axle energy will be wasted off the start.
How do you make a mousetrap car move?
If a mousetrap vehicle is struggling to move and/or needs more acceleration then the lever arms can be shortened in order to increase the pulling force. Keep in mind that you will also have to reposition the mouse trap closer to the drive axle or the system will not work as intended.
How do you make a mousetrap car go straight?
File the back of the front axle hole on the side of the frame opposite the direction the vehicle is turning. bonus tip: Once the axle holes are in alignment the mousetrap vehicle will travel straight.
What do you need for a mousetrap car?
What You Need: Wooden snap-back mousetrap. Duct tape. 4 eye hooks. Wooden dowel that fits inside the eye hooks. Heavy cardboard. Large and small rubber bands. Foam board (usually found at a craft store) String.
How long should the lever arm be on a mousetrap car for distance?
For maximum speed, position the mousetrap 2 1/4 inches from the drive axle and cut the lever arm to a length of 4 1/4 inches. The lever arm can be cut using a dremel tool or by using a fine tooth hobby saw. The lever arm should always be “just” long enough to reach the drive axle or performance will be compromised.
What does the string do on a mousetrap car?
Power to drive the wheels is provided by a mousetrap to which a wand and string is attached to the snap arm. Winding the string around the axle pulls back the snap arm and releasing the snap arm pulls the string, turning the wheels.
What makes a mousetrap car go farther?
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. In non-technical terms, this means that the same force from the mousetrap on each snap gets exerted over a longer string pull.
What kind of string do you use for a mousetrap car?
The string has to be strong enough to handle the pulling force but flexible and thin enough to wind tightly around the drive axle. We recommend using a Kevlar based fishing line because its high strength. You should stay away from nylon fishing line and dental floss, these do not work well with mousetrap racers.
How do you make a mousetrap car go faster and farther?
Use thin, light wheels. Thinner wheels have less friction and may go farther if the distance is what you want or need with your mousetrap racer. It’s also important to take the weight of the wheels themselves into account — any unneeded weight will ultimately slow your car down or lead to added friction.
Does a faster mousetrap car mean a further distance?
A speedy mousetrap car will have smaller wheels (faster acceleration), a shorter lever arm (increased torque, but smaller travel distance), a larger axle (increased acceleration) and will generally be smaller to decrease air resistance.
Should the string be tied to the axle Why or why not?
The string must not be tied to the axle. If the string is tied to the axle, it will begin to rewind itself and will cause your car to come to a sudden stop. In order to achieve maximum performance from your mouse-trap car, it is important that the pulling string does not slip off the drive axle prematurely.
How do you fix this mousetrap car suddenly stops or slows quickly?
Axle Points Test spin your mousetrap racers wheels in order to see how friction-free they spin. If the wheels stop spinning fairly quickly then you will need to find ways to reduce the axle friction. Try using graphite powder or even replacing bushings with ball bearings.
What happens if the mousetrap is mounted too far from the drive axle?
What happens if the mousetrap is mounted too far from the drive axle? You will lose pulling force or energy to friction. The energy goes too quickly and you lose pulling force.
How is the string connected to the axle on a mousetrap car?
A string is attached to the mouse trap’s lever arm and then hooked to the drive axle. The string has a loop knot tied at one end that is designed to “catch” a hook attached to the drive axle. The string’s loop knot is designed so that the string can release itself after the pulling force is spent.
What is the fastest mousetrap car?
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.
What can you use for wheels on 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.
How wide should a mousetrap car be?
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 get more torque on a mousetrap car?
The gearing of a mousetrap car determines the acceleration and the travel distance.Increase the torque by any of the following: shorten the length of the lever arm. using a smaller diameter drive wheels, or. increase the diameter of the drive axle.
How do you reduce friction on a mousetrap car?
Try to have a minimum gap of 1/8 inch between the frame and any spacers (or wheels) in order to decrease any rubbing friction. Use thrust washers and graphite powder between spacers (or wheels) and the frame to help reduce the rubbing friction.
How does a mousetrap car accelerate?
Mousetrap cars are powered by the spring of the mousetrap. When the mousetrap snaps back, the lever causes a release of energy. The lever is attached to a string that is wound around the back axle of the car.
