A mousetrap car can be made from cardboard or balsa wood with CD’s for wheels and
axles of wood or brass tubing
.
What can you use to increase mousetrap car wheel traction?
Adding Traction to Wheel
Various brands of rubber
may have more grip than other brands of rubber so it is always best to experiment. Rubber bands can be stretches and placed directly over a wheel or the middle section of a balloon can be cut and then also stretch around a wheel to help increase the traction.
What is the axle on a mousetrap car?
An important part of a mousetrap vehicles propulsion system is the axle hook. … The objective with all mousetrap vehicles is to
turn the potential energy of a wound-up mouse trap’s spring into the kinetic energy of motion
.
What do you use for a lever arm in a mousetrap car?
In most cases
brass tubing and brass brazing rods
make excellent lever arms because of their high-strength and light-weight. Wood can also make for a very strong and light-weight lever arm if it is used properly (see making a super long lever arm).
What can be added to the wheels and axle of the mousetrap car to reduce the friction?
Graphite powder
. A small amount of graphite powder can be applied to any two surfaces that rub against one another to decrease the friction.
What is the best length for a mousetrap car?
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.
What kind of string is best 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 can I increase the traction on my car?
- For rear-wheel vehicles, add weight to the rear. …
- Drive in tracks cleared by other vehicles. …
- Get a pair of tire socks. …
- Buy a pair of easy-to-install snow chains. …
- Get winter tires.
What makes a mousetrap car go fast?
When the mousetrap is triggered, it pulls the rod and the attached string, which unwinds from around the axle, which turns the wheels
, thus propelling the vehicle.
How can I make my mousetrap car better?
Adding a larger drive hub can
improve pulling power. In some images there is a rubber tire on the axle, this acts as a “gear” and reduces string slippage. Use the longest lever available to extend the mousetrap arm as far as possible. The tip traverses a greater distance allowing more wheel wraps of string to play out.
How does the length of the lever arm affect a mousetrap car?
Making the length of the mouse trap’s lever arm longer
will decrease the pulling force but increase the amount of string that can be pulling from the drive axle
. 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.
How long should you make your vehicle’s lever arm if you are building a mousetrap vehicle 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.
How do you reduce friction on an axle?
Ball bearings
are used to reduce the frictional force between the wheels and the axle. Here small hard steel balls are placed between the wheel and the axle which are free to rotate.
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 do you make a mousetrap car stop at a certain distance?
For instance,
octagon shaped wheels along with the remaining spring force
from the mousetrap may be enough to keep it in place. If you use a wheel with even fewer sides, such as a square, it will travel a shorter distance. Also, the larger the wheel diameter, the shorter the distance will also travel.
