How do you make a mousetrap car step by step?

1. Step 1: Removing the Bait Holder.
2. Step 2: Attaching the Eye Screws.
3. Step 3: Inserting the Axles.
4. Step 4: Making the Wheels.
5. Step 5: Creating Traction.
6. Step 6: Fixing the Wheels.
7. Step 7: Attach a String to the Mousetrap Jaw.
8. Step 8: Tie a String to the Rear Axle.

What do you need to build a mousetrap car?

What You Need:

1. Wooden snap-back mousetrap.
2. Duct tape.
3. 4 eye hooks.
4. Wooden dowel that fits inside the eye hooks.
5. Heavy cardboard.
6. Large and small rubber bands.
7. Foam board (usually found at a craft store)
8. String.

What is the best string 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.

Where should you place the mousetrap if you want speed?

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 mousetrap vehicle is in it’s fully wound position (as pictured bellow).

How do you use a mousetrap car?

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 do you make a mousetrap car go faster and farther?

Making The Vehicle Faster

1. Thicken the axle: Wrapping some tape radially around the axle or adding a spool. It may be surprising as to how much faster this makes the vehicle.
2. Use smaller wheels. They will require less force to complete a rotation.
3. Make the vehicle lighter.

What wheels should I use for a mousetrap car?

Use thin, light wheels.

1. Old CDs or DVDs work fairly well for this purpose — they’re large, thin, and extremely light.
2. If you have access to old vinyl, these also work extremely well, though they may be too heavy for the smallest mousetraps.

How do you make a mousetrap car more accurate?

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. The last note is to place your mousetrap as close to the front of the car as possible.

How long should the string be on a mousetrap car?

Do not put slack in the string as it is wound around the drive axle by holding down on the mousetrap. The string should be pulled tightly by the mousetrap’s lever as it is wound around the axle. The string should be “just” long enough to reach from the tip of the lever arm to the drive axle’s hook.

What kind of string is best for a mousetrap car?

Is friction important for a mousetrap car?

Controlling friction is your number one goal to building a winning and record-setting mousetrap powered vehicle. Because the number of moving components increases the friction point look for ways to simplify the design as much as possible.

Why is my mousetrap car not going straight?

If your mousetrap car does not travel straight energy is also being wasted to over come the force of friction turning the vehicle’s wheels. If a mousetrap vehicle is not traveling straight then there is one reason and one reason only: the front and rear axles are not parallel to one another!

What are the instructions for mouse trap?

Mouse Trap Instructions Release the arm bar from the staple. Move the arm bar to the back of the trap so it hangs over the back of the trap. Apply a small amount of high-protein bait, such as peanut butter, hazelnut spread or bacon to the yellow plastic pedal on the trap as shown.

How does a mousetrap car move?

The mousetrap powered car works by changing the kinetic energy (of a loaded mousetrap) into kinetic energy (when the trap springs). The jaw snapping shut pulls the string, which makes the axles turn, which spins the tires-propelling the car forward.

How does a mouse trap work?

Snap and release traps work by a lever close to the entrance. As the mouse goes into the trap, the metal latch moves backward, releases the bar and snaps shut so the mouse cannot escape. Some snap and release mouse traps have mesh wiring that allows air to circulate while the moue is inside.

What is a mouse trap?

mouse trap. [′mau̇s ‚trap] (engineering) A cylindrical fishing tool having the open bottom end fitted with an inward opening valve.