Reflection

Out of all the experiments that were tested in school, the mousetrap car was the most successful. The car traveled 29 tiles, which was the most out of all of the cars made. Many things were learnt while doing this project such as: learning what creates a kind of energy, learning more about Newton's Laws, how different ordinary parts could be used to make the car and learning which main source gave off the most amount of force. The mousetrap was a strong force of potential energy. Each of the pieces of the car were well placed and glued well. Changes I would make to the project would be to start it earlier because the car and experiments could have been more in detail and accurate if the project wasn't done last minute.  After our experiment, the axle had gotten loose. It had become loose because the pens weren't glued enough.  Further investigation I would do is to add different elements of energy such as a balloon or rubber bands to the mousetrap car to see if it would help it go a farther distance.

The Final Product

The Final Vehicle:

Test 3 for Design 3

Test 3-

Hypothesis:
If the balloon is used as a rubber band around the wheels (Cd's), then there will be greater friction.

Procedure:

1. Cut top and bottom of balloon off.
2. Cut that in half
3. Stretch "rubber band" around each wheel (Cd)
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the other set of wheels

Results:
A forward force was neccisary to make the vehicle move. As well as, compared to before the vehicle did not accelerate as fast and didn't go as far.

Conclusion:
While the rubber bands did indeed create friction, it caused the vehicle to slow down excessively. The hypothesis was proven correct; however, the balloon rubber bands will have a negative impact on the vehicle. Therefore, the balloon rubber bands will not be used on the vehicle.

Test 2 for Design 3

Test 2-

Hypothesis:
If Cd's are used for the wheels, then the vehicle will follow a straight path.

Procedure:

1. Insert pen through 2 Cd's.
2. Hot glue the Cd's to each side evenly.
3. Glue pen and Cd (wheel and axle) to vehicle base.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the other set of wheels.

Results:
When the car was realeased, the Cd's allowed the vehicle to move in a straight path. Also, the Cd's helped the vehicle move faster and smoother.

Conclusion:
The hypothesis was proven correct. The Cd's affected the car by allowing it to move in a straight, smooth, and fast path. This also follows the rules that the vehicle must stay in a 2 tile wide path. Overall, the Cd's had a postive impact on the vehicle.

Test 1 for Design 3

Test 1-

Hypothesis:
If thread is used to pull back the hanger attached to the mousetrap, then it will unwind at an even pace.

Procedure:

1. Cut appropriate piece of thread
2. Tie thread through hook attached to hanger
3. Pull back thread and attach to axle
4. Wind the axle
5. Let go of axle allowing the car to accelerate.

Results:
As the thread was released, it unwounded slowly. As the thread was unwinding, it got tangled which caused the vehicle to slow down.

Conclusion:
The results showed that the hypothesis was incorrect. The thread did not unwind at an even pace causing it to tangle. The acceleration, therefore slowed down. This experiment shows that thread should not be used in the vehicle. Fishing wire is the better choice.

Procedure for Design 3

Procedure:

1. Take three paint sticks and place two parallel with each other.
2. Take the third paint stick and cut it in half making to even pieces. Place one horizontally (creating a H) and place the other piece parallel to it.
3. Take a pen and place it in the Cd to make the wheel and axle.
4. Do step 3 again for the other side.
5. Take the wheels and axles and place them on the ends of the base.
6. Glue the adjusted and cut mousetrap to the middle of the base.
7. Attach a piece of the hanger to the mousetrap.
8. The hanger had a hook of the end of it which allowed the fishing line to easily go through it.
9. Knot the fishing line to the hook to make sure that it would stay in place.
10. Pull the line back which will allow the hanger to come back as well.
11. Wind the fishing line around the axle again and again. This will cause the car to accelerate in a forward direction.
12. When the fishing line is released the car will go in a straight path steadily.

Final Design

Final Design

The vehicle that the project was based off of was design 3. This design had the least amount of cons and allowed the vehicle to have both kinetic and potential energy from the mousetrap. The paint sticks would allow the vehicle to have a sturdy base and the Cd's would allow it to go in a straight path. After several tests, different adjustments were made to the vehicle. For example, the fishing line would be able to keep the hanger up without it breaking. The vehicle followed all the rules that were needed and would go a further distance than the other designs would have.

Design 3 (Mousetrap Car): Pros and Cons

Mousetrap Car: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Fishing line is study and durable to hold the hanger up.
• The mousetrap's spring has potential energy.
• As the mousetrap's arm moves it has kinetic energy.
• The mousetrap is a strong source of energy.
• The wheels (Cd's) will allow the car to go in a straight path.
• The paint sticks (base) are sturdy.

Cons:

• A lot of materials are needed.
• The building process takes a long time
• Hanger can break easily
• The mousetrap, paint sticks, hanger, and fishing line are hard to adjust.

 

Design 2 (Rubber Band Car)- Pros and Cons

Rubber Band Car- Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Styrofoam is lightweight.
• Rubber band has a lot of potential energy
• The nails are sturdy so the vehicle will stay in place.
• The ridges in the bottle caps will create friction.

Cons:

• The ridges could cause the vehicle to not move in a straight line.
• The Styrofoam can easily brake.
• The rubber band could snap which was the main force behind the car.

Design 1 (Balloon Car)- Pros and Cons

Balloon Car- Pros and Cons

Pros-

• Straw lets air out from the balloon which will cause the car to go in a straight path.
• Household materials were used to make the vehicle.
• Easy to make and put together.
• Balloon has kinetic and potential energy

Cons-

• The thread rolls may cause the vehicle to roll unevenly.
• Straw has to fit perfectly for the balloon
• The thread rolls may not allow the vehicle to go in a forward path.
• The main force (balloon size, placement, amount of air needed) may not work.

Newton's Laws of Motion

Newton's 1st Law of Motion
An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Newton's 2nd Law of Motion
Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass (of the object being accelerated) the greater the amount of force needed (to accelerate the object).

Newton's 3rd Law of Motion
For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action.

Design 3: Mousetrap Car

Design 3: Mousetrap Car

Materials:

• Mousetrap
• Paint Sticks
• Pens
• Cd's
• Fishing line
• Hanger
• Glue

The main force for this experiment is the Mousetrap. The paint sticks will be used as the base of the car.

Brief Procedure:

1. Attach the overlapping paint sticks to the wheels and axles which were made out of the Cd's and pens.
2. Place the mouse trap on the paint sticks (base).
3. Take the hanger and attach it to the mouse trap.
4. Attach the fishing line to the hanger and pull it back toward the axle.
5. Wind the fishing line around the axle and release it. This will cause the car to accelerate forward.

Design 2: Rubber Band Car

Design 2: Rubber Band Car

Materials-

• Balloon
• Styrofoam
• Bottle Caps
• Nails
• Rubber Bands
• Scissors
• Glue

For this design our main force is rubber bands, rather than balloons. The structure that will be used to hold up the car is styrofoam because it is less in weight compared to wood or cardboard. To make the wheels and axels, bottle caps and nails will be used.

Procedure-

1. Take the bottle caps and attach one to each side of the nail. This makes the wheels and the axel
2. Glue one set of this to the front of the styrofoam and one set to the back of the styrofoam.
3. Cut a rubber band so it becomes a one long piece.
4. Attach it between the two nails.
5. Take the side that has the rubber band attached to it and wind it again and again.
6. This should make the vehicle accelerate in a forward direction.

Design 1: Balloon Car

Design 1: Balloon Car

Materials-

• Balloon
• Wheels (thread rolls)
• Axles
• Soda Bottle
• Pencils
• Straw

Procedure-

• To start our design we will first make the wheels and axles by taking the thread rolls and attaching it to the pencils.
• The wheels must remain sturdy; therefore, putting tape on the sides of the wheels is a must.
• Take the side of the soda bottle and push the pencils through. Make sure to glue it on each side.
• Attach the wheels that were made by the thread rolls.
• Take a straw and place it in the mouth of the balloon.  This will allow the balloon to release the air which will make the car go straight.
• Add the blown balloon to the top of the car.
• Once the balloon is released the air will exert an equal and opposite force that will cause the car to excel in a forward direction which is Newton's 3rd Law of Motion.

The Challenge:
Apply knowledge of Newton's laws of motion, momentum, and energy to design and construct a vehicle that will go as far as possible using an unbalenced force to create motion.

Rules:

• Construct a vehicle that can travel at least three tiles. Vehicle must stay within a 2-tile wide path.
• No FORWARD force may be applied to the vehicle by the student.
• Vehicle must be made of recyled/ reused products. No pre-made vehicle parts.
• Vehicle must travel using an unbalenced force to create motion.
• Students are not allowed to help vehicle along the path.
• Students may not use electricity/fuel cells or manufactured containers or pressurized gas (ie. CO₂ ). This is a land vehicle. All vehicles start from a level surface (no ramps or walls). All parts of the vehicle must remain on the vehicle, except fuel.