How Mouse Trap Cars Work

Mouse trap cars are simple contraptions that could be				wheels resulting in the movement of the car.
built using ordinary household items. With a person's				That's basically how the car is made and how the
understanding of the fundamental laws of Physics or				mouse trap is designed to propel the car.
even just and idea of how the forces of nature act on				When the stored energy in the spring of the
everyday items, one can construct his or her very				mousetrap was released, it moved the lever arm,
own mousetrap car.				transforming the potential energy into kinetic energy.
It's a simple vehicle with a mouse trap as its primary				Since the string was tied to the mouse trap's snapper,
source of propulsion. The potential energy stored within				the snapper applied a pulling force on it (string). This
the spring of the snapper is converted into kinetic				pulling force will cause the axle to turn and by turning
energy which will cause a chain reaction along the				the axle, the wheels, which were attached to the axle
parts of the device. This chain reaction will result in				would rotate. If the wheels have enough traction, and
multiple changes and transformations of energies from				less rotational inertia, the wheels will travel or move
it's potential state. In the end, these transformations of				towards the opposite direction of the rotational force.
energy and the chain reactions taking place among the				Since the wheel is attached to the axle, the axle move
parts of the car will cause the vehicle to displace itself				towards the same direction as the wheel and since
from its starting point. What is impressive about this				the axle is attached to the base of the car, the axle,
car is that it's a purely mechanical device that moves				will apply a pushing force to the base of the
without the use combustible fuel or electricity.				mousetrap car causing the whole vehicle to displace.
Now, you might be thinking how this machine works				It's amusing to find that such a simple gadget is
exactly and what forces and energies take part in the				influenced by these many forces that makes the
car's activities.				whole process seem so complicated. Perhaps that is
First of all, the contraption must be made up of four				the reason why a lot of people have become
wheels, two axles, either a solid base or a ladder type				enthusiastic about the car and have been hobbyists of
base, a string and of course, a mouse trap. These				mouse trap cars.
parts could be made up of various materials. There is				There are countless possibilities in terms of
no standard material or make for any of the parts				improvements and enhancements in the field of
mentioned but it would be more efficient to use light				mousetrap car making. You could design a mouse trap
weight components.				car that is built for speed or a mousetrap car that is
Now, these materials must be assembled to look like a				designed to displace to a large distance. With simple
car. The mousetrap sits on the base, while on the two				additions and modifications to the parts or to the
far ends of the base, you add the axles. The common				material of the car, there is a possibility that its
practice for putting the axle is by drilling two parallel				performance may either improve or worsen.
holes on both ends of the base. When the axles are in				Mousetrap cars are truly magnificent simple machines.
place, attach the wheels on each end of the axles.				It will stimulate your mind as well as challenge your skills
Then you can tie one end of the string on the mouse				and knowledge of the natural sciences. This is a hobby
trap's lever arm while the other end is coiled around				that would be great not only for Physics students but
the rear axle. By releasing the snapper, it will pull the				for kids of all ages who wants to build, discover and
string which will in turn, rotate the axle that will spin the				learn.

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How Mouse Trap Cars Work