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MESA Day 2013 Mousetrap Car

MESA Day 2013 Mousetrap Car. 6 th -8 th Grade - Distance. 9 th -12 th Grade - Accuracy. Objective & Materials. Students will build a vehicle solely powered by a standard mousetrap to travel the longest distance on a specified track (MS) or stop the closest to a specified target (HS).

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MESA Day 2013 Mousetrap Car

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  1. MESA Day 2013Mousetrap Car 6th-8th Grade - Distance 9th-12thGrade - Accuracy

  2. Objective & Materials • Students will build a vehicle solely powered by a standard mousetrap to travel the longest distance on a specified track (MS) or stop the closest to a specified target (HS). • Materials: • 1 standard mousetrap • All other materials are legal • NO KITS!

  3. First Things First: • READ RULES AT LEAST TWICE!! • Mousetrap is ONLY source of energy • Don’t tamper with mousetrap: • No paint • No decoration • Alteration allowed ONLY for attaching mousetrap to chassis • Spring may not be altered • READ RULES AT LEAST TWICE!!

  4. Let’s review physics! • Energy:It’s what moves the car. • Potential: energy stored in a system (mousetrap spring) • Elastic & Gravitational • Kinetic: energy of motion • Potential  Kinetic • Inertia: The resistance an object has to changing its state of motion. • Rotational Inertia: The resistance an object has to changing its state of rotation. • Friction: A force that opposes the direction of motion. • Static: caused from two surfaces pressing together. • Fluid: caused from liquids or gases. In air, this is known as drag. • Torque: The force required to rotate an object. • Power: The rate at which energy is released or transformed in a system.

  5. The Engine: Spring + Lever Arm • Energy from spring is transferred to car via the lever arm • Lever arm provides torque required to turn axles • Length of lever arm affects power output • Shorter arm = faster output • Longer arm = slower output

  6. Wheels & Axles • # of wheels : 3 or 4 • Wheel radius • The greater the radius, the greater the torque required to rotate the axle • Wheel grip (traction) • Power output must match wheel grip to avoid spinning • Avoid wasting energy • Ratio of wheel-to-axle • Larger ratio good for distance, but not necessarily for accuracy • Friction • Reduce friction between wheels and surface • Also between axle and chassis • Alignment

  7. Wheels & Axles

  8. The Chassis • The body of the car • Balsawood, plastic, other lightweight materials • Mass • The heavier the car, the greater the friction force with the surface • More force required to actually move the car • Long chassis vs. Short chassis • Narrow vs Wide • Aerodynamics (negligible)

  9. Accuracy: Can be fast or slow Length of lever arm Wheel and axle size Braking mechanism? quick power output Slow: Build a car that will accelerate slowly over the entire distance that it travels. Less “coasting”. longer lever arm larger wheel radius slow power output Fast vs Slow • Fast: • Build a car that will accelerate quickly and “coast” as far as possible • shorter lever arm • smaller wheel radius • quick power output

  10. Tips for avoiding DQ’s: • Research, research, research! • Experimentation is the key • Set a working timeline • READ THE RULES….twice….again!! • HAVE FUN!!!: It’s not the end of the world.

  11. Remind Students: • Research, research, research! • Experimentation is the key • Set a working timeline • READ THE RULES….twice….again!! • HAVE FUN!!!: It’s not the end of the world.

  12. Let’s Build… Marvin Maldonado Director, SDSU MESA mmaldonado@projects.sdsu.edu

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