In our last activity, we focused on developing a force profile for a common mousetrap at several different lever lengths. From this data, we were able to determine the quantity of work that the mousetrap could do.

Now, it’s time to bring together all that we have studied concerning simple machines and mechanical advantage. Your goal is to design, fabricate and test a car powered only by the energy stored within a mousetrap’s spring.

Design Statement: Design a car, powered only by a mousetrap, that travels the maximum distance possible in a straight line.

Constraints:1. Available materials: balsa wood (2 -1 3/8”, 4 - 2 ½ “, and 1 - 4” segment), CD

wheels (4 maximum), 4ft section of 3/16 dia. Steel rod, 4 wheel spacers, various glues, screws, rubber bands & other provided materials.

2. Each team may use only one mousetrap; this mousetrap must be the only power source for the locomotion of the mousetrap car.

Deliverables:1. Scale rendering of the final mousetrap car design in Google SketchUp.2. Functional mousetrap car which can consistently (2 out of 3 attempts) travel a

minimum of 5 meters down a designated hallway in Roberts Hall.3. A summative report, which clearly shows how the design of the mousetrap car

optimizes performance in regards to the design statement. Optimizations must include justifying data. The summative report must include a determination of efficiency. Any prior designs must be documented and referenced if not original.

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D Activity 3: The Mousetrap CarDesign Brief

PDesign Brief

P r o j e c t

Figure 1: A commercially produced mousetrap car

Mousetrap Car Rubric

10-9 pts 8-7 pts 6-5 pts 4-0 pts

SketchUp Rendering

Diagram drawn extremely well.  Professional look.  Highly detailed. Parts labeled.  Easy to understand.

Diagram drawn Satisfactorily. Drawing neat. Good detail. Most parts labeled.  Understandable

Diagram messy.  Not labeled. Some detail. Difficult to read or understand.

No diagram turned in.  

Summative Report

Report extremely well organized

Report thoroughly explains purpose of design features related to performance

Includes all necessary information

Design process fully documented

Report well organized

Report explains purpose of design features related to performance

Includes all necessary information Design process fully documented

Report somewhat organized Some information missing. Design documentation incomplete

Did not submit a report

Teamwork

Group works very well together. Ideas from all members listened to and respected.  Excellent participation.  Always on-task

Group works adequately well. For the most part ideas respected and listened to by all members. Primarily on-task

Group not cooperating. Not respecting or listening to others.  Primarily off-task

Group not attempting to work or cooperate.  Inappropriate discussions not related to project.  Total lack of participation.

Performance

Car distance traveled exceeds design constraints by 100% or more for 3/3 attemps

Car completed on time

Car distance traveled exceeds design constraints by 50% or more for 2/3 attempts.

Car completed on time.

Car travels required distance 2/3 attempts.

Car completed on time.

Car unable to travel minimum distance 2/3 attempts

Car completed on time

Design Process

Design process thoroughly documented, including multiple sketches of different design iterations or features.

Design process documented

Design process documented incompletely

Little to no evidence of design process documentation

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