How does a mousetrap car work

But with the right mix of experiences, we can be more prepared for the unexpected. The idea of learning a life skill is that you can become better at dealing with everyday challenges that arise through various possible circumstances. Whether at home, Science experiments are one of the most fun things you will get to do in your homeschool! I've put together some really fun and easy science experiments for you and your family to do this year Why Honey Bees are Important The honey bee is one of the most important pollinators in the world.

In this article, we will discover the lifecycle of a Honey Bee. Pollination is how plants reproduce. An Overview of Robotics Robotics is the study of robots. That makes it different from a theoretical science, which deals with hypothetical and imagined concepts.

Robotics is a multi-discipline Grade Range: Adaptable for Grades 3 - 8. Overview: Learn about food webs by dissecting owl pellets. Build a Mousetrap Car.

More Physics Articles. Shop for Physics Supplies! Physics Products. Related Articles. But, we can help. Is STEM just another fad? Or are STEM fields the key that can unlock the future for not only young people but for the world? Let's dive in. Science can be split up into several fields of study. We're going to dive into what space and earth sciences are—and some of their A KWL Chart is an interactive graphic organizer that allows students to take control of their own learning by organizing existing background knowledge before, during, and after a lesson, chapter, or learning that takes place from using a science kit Because every teacher-student situation is different, there is no one science curriculum that is best for every homeschool family Background on Mousetraps With just a few parts a wooden base, a spring, a metal bar, and a trigger mechanism it can do its job quickly and efficiently.

Not only can this machine get rid of mice, it can teach us a lot about physics, too! How Does a Mousetrap Work? In a second-class lever the effort force is at the other end, with the load in the middle. Teaching Homeschool Welcome! Let the mousetrap arm close it points past the front wheels. Unspool the string from the roll and cut it so it's about " past the drive wheel dowel picture 3.

Carefully wind the string around the dowel by turning the drive wheels. As much as possible, try to wrap just one layer of string around the dowel picture 1. Now that you've seen how the car is built, here's an overview of the science and math that's behind the car:. The summary, the science and math concepts behind the mousetrap car manifest as a balance between these principles: lower friction and inertia as much as possible and decrease mechanical advantage as much as possible.

The example mousetrap car built in this Instructable is a good place to start, but it's not the absolute best design. We can use our understanding of the math and science behind the car to test some ways to optimize its performance. The best mousetrap car is one that starts by slowly crawling forward, using the smallest amount of energy possible to get moving. This indicates that it has the lowest possible mechanical advantage. As the car moves forward, it begins to build momentum.

When the arm reaches the end of its arc, the car has generated enough momentum to continue coasting for some distance. The less friction the car generates, the greater the coasting distance will be. With that in mind, challenge your students to think about the following categories of improvement:. If you're planning on teaching this project to a group of kids, then download the attached lesson plan and project sheet. Like all of my lesson plans , it contains the project goal, prep, troubleshooting, and a suggested lesson plan.

The lesson plan is an outline, and it's provided as an editable. This lesson plan also includes all the details on the math and science behind the car. To download the Project Sheet, click on the image and then click on the download button in the lower left corner. Or, right click and open the image in a new tab, then right click and save the image. I recommend showing how to build the car step-by-step, and then use the project sheet as a reminder of the steps. Print out one project sheet for every 2 students.

Lastly, this project aligns with the following NGSS :. MS-ETS Engineering Design - Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

Thanks for reading this far! Forgive me - my first glance to the pic left me wondering "is this designed to trap a mouse? Great design! Will give a try and see how far it can go. This is such a fun STEM activity, but it also covers some important middle school math and science concepts.

It's a win-win! Thanks for sharing and including so many awesome resources! Introduction: Mousetrap Car - Explained. More by the author:. About: I'm a writer, maker, and educator who's on a mission to better the world through hands-on engineering projects. Check out my work: www. Note: the large wheels were removed from this picture for visual clarity, but it's not necessary. The car frame and wheels are complete picture 3! Time to add some mousetrap power.

Lift the mousetrap arm and position two half-craft sticks under it as shown picture 1. Tie the end of the string into a small loop picture 4. Loop the string onto the cable tie from the underside of the dowel picture 1. Starting the string from the underside of the dowel will make the car drive with the large wheels in front.

This means the drive wheels will "pull" the car forward instead of "pushing. The mousetrap car will be more efficient if the string is wrapped around the dowel as many times as possible. If the string starts to wrap around itself and forms a bundle, the diameter of each wrap will increase, which results in less wraps overall. To drive, just set the car on a smooth, flat surface, then let go!

Now that you've seen how the car is built, here's an overview of the science and math that's behind the car: The basics The mousetrap stores potential energy in 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. Mechanical Advantage The mousetrap car relies on a form of mechanical advantage to convert the fast burst of energy from the spring into a weaker but longer-lasting output of energy.