Design Options and Training:
We will be using Whitebox Learning software to understand the science, and engineering behind a great and successful design for a mousetrap car. The learning software will provide opportunities to try out a limited type of different design that can be tested out in a virtual environment. We are also going to be modeling designs in Sketch Up to open up the types of designs to a limitless amount of possibilities. The final phase of this major project will to model the mouse trap car design that will be built and tested in the hallway for a competition against your classmates.
Design Tips:
When designing for maximum distance of a single engine, mouse trap car, think about the great mechanical advantage of a small gear (axle) to a large gear (wheel). The most effective designs have use this advantage. See diagram below from Whitebox Learning.
When designing for maximum distance, a long lever arm attached to the spring of the mousetrap will provide more length of string to be pulled around the axle for more rotations and therefore, more distance. See Whitebox Learning diagram below to see the mechanical advantages of a longer lever arm.