Mousetrap Car Webquest
This webquest is designed to start giving you ideas about how to design the best mousetrap car! ENJOY and start picturing your mousetrap car!
1) a. How does a mousetrap car work? b. How is the string connected to the axle?
2) a. Where should you place the mousetrap for the best performance if you want speed? b. if you are building a mousetrap vehicle for distance?
3) a. How long should you make your vehicle’s lever arm for best performance if you want speed or power? b. if you are building a mousetrap vehicle for distance?
4)What if your mousetrap car suddenly stops or slows down?
5)What if your axle slides back and forth causing wheels to rub against the frame of the car which slows/stops the car?
6)How can you make your vehicle go faster? (5 ways)
7)How can you make your vehicle go further? (4 ways)
8)When designing a trap car what are the 2 variables that truly determine performance? How can you minimize the one that slows you down?
9)What are the 4 major differences between the speed car design and the distance car design?
10)How do Newton’s laws of motion apply to mousetrap powered vehicles?
Law One:
Law Two:
Law Three:
11) List 3 tips for making a fast speed racer.
12) What is torque?
You apply a torque to make an object ______or ______.
A torque is produced when a force is exerted with leverage. For example, a doorknob is on the opposite side of the door from the hinges in order to ______the leverage. By placing the doorknob far from the turning axis of the hinges, ______is required when you push or pull on the doorknob. Less effort is required to use a ______wrench than a short wrench to loosen a nut because you have more leverage with a long handle. The distance from the turning axis to the point of contact is called the lever arm when the force is applied perpendicularly. Therefore, torque is the product of the lever arm and the force that tends to produce ______.
The ______the lever arm extension that is used, the ______force that is transferred through the string to the drive axle and the less torque that is produced. ______lever arms produce more torque.
13)How do you make a good distance trap car? List 3 ways.