What Forces Act On A Mousetrap Car? - Fixanswer

The mousetrap storespotential energyin the form of the spring . That potential energy is converted into kinetic energy in the form of the arm rotating forward. The arm pulls on the wound-up string, which turns the drive wheel dowel, which is connected to the wheels, which makes the car drive forward.

How does a mousetrap car use friction?

The axle spins while the body of the car does not , creating friction. This friction adversely affects the motion of the vehicle, slowing the spin of the axle during and after the release of the mousetrap. The greater the friction between axle and body, the shorter the distance of travel.

How does Newton’s laws apply to mousetrap cars?

Newton’s first law can be observed in a mousetrap car because is evident that the car does not want to move until an outside force acts on it, and then it takes another outside force to make it stop moving, the force of friction. Newton’s second Law states that a = Fnet/m.

What makes a mousetrap car fast?

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.

What is the key to a quick start in a mousetrap car?

Lever Arm Basics

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. Understanding this basic concept is the key to building a successful mousetrap powered vehicle.

How does weight affect a mousetrap car?

mousetrap vehicle science

Weight distribution can have a large effect on a vehicles performance, if the weight of a vehicle is concentrated to far away from the drive wheels there may be a greater tendency for slippage at the start line.

What is the two types of friction?

There are two main types of friction, static friction and kinetic friction . Static friction operates between two surfaces that aren’t moving relative to each other, while kinetic friction acts between objects in motion.

When designing a trap car What are the 2 variables that truly determine performance?

In general, mousetrap competitions have two categories, speed and distance . If you want to optimize for speed, you’ll want to design a car that exerts as much force/rotation as possible on the wheels as fast as possible.

How do mousetrap cars reduce friction?

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.

What happens if the mousetrap is mounted too close to 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 does mousetrap car work?

A basic mousetrap car is powered by attaching a string to the “snap” lever on the trap , looping the other end to a small hook on the axle, winding the string around the axle of the car pulling back on the lever and arming it.

How does inertia affect a mousetrap car?

Mousetrap Cars: Rotational Inertia. Rotational inertia effect both the travel distance and the acceleration of a mousetrap racer . You cannot build a winning mousetrap racer until you know the basics. ... The more rotational inertia an object has the more torque that will be required to change the objects state of rotation.

How does Newton’s third law affect a mousetrap car?

Newton’s Third Law and the mousetrap car:

Newton’s Third Law is also applied to the mousetrap car since the mousetrap spring will have a lot of built up tension directed in the opposite direction that we’d like the car to move in. As this tension is released, the car will move forward.

What types of friction affect a mousetrap car?

A moving mousetrap car is affected by two type of friction: airfriction and bearing friction .