Introduction: You will build an originally designed vehicle powered solely by the energy of
one standard-sized mousetrap.
A very popular method of propulsion is to tie one end of a string to the arm (or an extended
lever arm) on the mousetrap and the other end to the axle. By winding the string around the
axle, the mousetrap's spring, when released, pulls on the string causing the wheels to turn and
thus making the car move (there are, however, other creative ways to convey power from the
mousetrap to the car).
Objectives: The objective of this project is to...
a) Design a mousetrap car that will travel a maximum speed/acceleration over a 5 meter race.
b) Demonstrate an understanding of the physics principles incorporated in your design (in a
report).
The project consists of 5 phases:
1. Mousetrap Car Design
2. Procurement of parts - Pass CHECKPOINT 1
3. Mousetrap Car Construction - Pass CHECKPOINT 2
4. Mousetrap Car Performance Evaluation - Race day.
5. Mousetrap Car Physics Analysis (Report)
Design Instructions:
1. The vehicle must be powered by a single “Victor” brand mousetrap or equivalent (no rat
traps allowed). You are not allowed to "heat treat" the spring to enhance tensile
strength.
2. You have complete design freedom concerning vehicle size, vehicle weight, and
materials used (except for the mouse trap "engine"). However use common sense,
nothing sharp or dangerous may be used on the car.
3. CAR-KITS PURCHASED ARE ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED. The intent of this project
is for you to research, design, and build your own car from "scratch" i.e. from individual
components you have purchased, already have on hand at home or made. Please be
aware that I am confident in my ability to identify purchased kits. Parts from toys
(Example: tires from models, K'NEX parts, Erector Set parts, etc) are allowed if prior
approved either before or at checkpoint 1.
4. You will not be permitted to "push start" your vehicle i.e. upon release, your vehicle
must start moving on its own.
5. Only the preset race distance will be measured; "total distance travelled” does not count
(i.e. the straighter the travel line, the better your grade will be as your race time will be
faster).
6. Displacement will be measured from the starting line position to the front-most part of
the vehicle at its final resting point.
7. Your goal is 5 meters or more. All cars entered must achieve a minimum of 3 meters
displacement to pass the performance part of the grade. Please examine the grading
rubric (see link below); car performance is a major part of your project grade so test
your design, make improvements and then test some more!
The Mousetrap Car Physics Analysis Report
Answer the following questions completely (include formulas and/or calculations where
appropriate). Your answers may be written or typed and a minimum of 300 words.
1. What are the two types of friction that affect the performance of your vehicle?
2. What problems related to friction did you encounter and how did you solve them?
3. What factors did you take into account to decide the number of wheels you chose in
your design?
4. What kind of wheels did you use in each axle? What is the effect of using large or small
wheels?
5. Explain how Newton's first, second and third laws apply to the performance of your
vehicle.
6. Discuss the effect of the length of the lever arm in the pulling force of your vehicle.
7. How is the balance of a wheel, around its center, related to the vehicle’s performance?
8. How does the distribution of weight of the vehicle affect the traction of the wheels?
9. Discuss the major problems encountered in the performance of your vehicle and what
did you do to solve them.
Group No.______
Name:_____________________________________Section:_____________________________
Leader:____________________________________Date Performed:______________________
Members:_________________, _________________, __________________,_______________
3-Quarter Transfer Task in Science 8
“Constructing a Mouse Trap Vehicle”
Goal- You’re tasked is to build and design a mousetrap car that will travel a maximum
speed/acceleration over a 5 meter race.
Role – You an Engineer
Audience – Board of engineers (Teacher and classmates)
Situation- Your science classroom is sponsoring a competition for the fastest, farthest and most
unique vehicle ran by a simple mousetrap.
Product- A Mousetrap model car;
Standards- The model car must manifest the following characteristics: design, elegance and
creativity, car performance, and have a good analysis report.
Criteria Excellent Very Good Good Fair
5 3 2 1
Car It shows an It shows a very It shows a good It shows a fair
excellent good application of application of application of
Construction
application of design, design, design,
and design design, construction and construction and construction and
4 construction and assembly assembly assembly. Minimal
assembly attention to detail.
Car Final displacement Final displacement Final displacement Final displacement
is 5 m or greater is 3-4 m or greater is less that 3 m or is 0 to all attempts
performance
less
3
Elegance and Car construction is Car looks well Car construction Car looks poorly
elegant and constructed look average constructed
Creativity
creatively unique
2
Analysis Students gathered student gathered a Student gathered Student made
extensive wide variety of basic information some attempt to
Report
information about information about about mousetrap gather information
(Engineering mousetrap cars, mousetrap cars cars about mousetrap
Journal) including diagrams, cars.
4 physics behind it
and examples
Total:
