Problems Affecting My Mousetrap Car

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I have learned quite a lot while constructing my mousetrap car. For example i learned that the friction that is active while the mousetrap car is in motion is rolling and static. Rolling friction occurs when an object rolls over a surface, in my case the CDs are rolling on the floor causing the car to move. Static friction occurs when one solid surface slides over another, for example my solid car sliding over a solid surface.Fortunately i didn't have very much problems related to friction. For my design I decided to go with a 3” by 10” plastic base with 4 CDs wrapped in rubber balloons for the extra friction. When deciding on a number of wheels for my car i just choose four because i personally think with four wheels you get the equal amount …show more content…

I cut the arm down to about 9” so it can be a little shorter than the base. I didn't cut it to short or to long because it needs to be able to reach the back axle for the string to wind up. My first time making the car the wheels were uneven and wobble which caused the car to curve when in motion causing it to knock into everything in sight. Fortunately i was able to fix that problem with the help of my hot glue gun. I glued each side of my CDs to the axle to help with the stability of the wheels and the car. Another big thing about the car is that it can't be to heavy or it wont move at all or just move slowly and not go the distance you would …show more content…

All together i built, broke, and rebuilt my car 3 times. At first the base was made out a black foam poster board and broke the first time i let it go off. After that I replaced the weak poster board with a stronger plastic base and stabbed thin wooden rods it for support. The problem with the second one was the wobbly wheels. I tried multiple things such as trying duct tape and superglue but then settled with the best idea which was hot glue, it dries fast and stays on longer than the others. And last but not least the third time i had trouble winding up the weak ribbon and traded it in for a stronger, more stable string. At last my car was finally finished and ready to get

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