By changing the size of the
To increase the speed and distance of a mousetrap vehicle, you can experiment with different types of wheels, reduce friction by adding lubricants, and make sure the vehicle is well balanced. It is also important to properly wind the mousetrap and adjust the trigger mechanism for optimal performance.
If instead the mousetrap vehicle is shins it's wheels when placed on the ground, or traveling two fast causing it to have to much friction, you may have to increase the length of the mouse trap's lever arm and reposition the mouse trap away from the drive axle in order to slow the vehicle down and decrease the pulling ...
In the mousetrap car drive axle the small circumference spun by the string wrapped around it for a relatively short length propels the much larger drive wheels a much greater distance but with small amount of force. This is why the car must roll with little friction.
Each wheel increases the rotational inertia of the system. In most cases a mousetrap vehicle with fewer wheels will have less rotational inertia compared to a similar mousetrap car with more wheels.
One way to slow this release is to lengthen the lever arm. A longer arm travels a greater distance and allows more wraps of string around the axle. The car will go far, but more slowly. Friction: Minimize friction on the axle by minimizing the contact surface area.
For long distance mousetrap racers a large diameter drive wheel with a small diameter drive axle is desired. For speed trap racers a smaller diameter drive wheel with a larger diameter drive axle is desired.
The wheels may be pressed too tightly against the straw. Make sure the wheels can spin freely. Check for excessive friction, such as hot glue inside the straws, the wheels rubbing against something, etc. The mousetrap car might be too big.
The mousetrap car will be more efficient if the string is wrapped around the dowel as many times as possible. If the string starts to wrap around itself and forms a bundle, the diameter of each wrap will increase, which results in less wraps overall.
Max Length - 45 cm. Max Width - 20 cm. Height - 20 cm. Min ground clearance - 4 cm.
The string has to be strong enough to handle the pulling force but flexible and thin enough to wind tightly around the drive axle. We recommend using a Kevlar based fishing line because its high strength. You should stay away from nylon fishing line and dental floss, these do not work well with mousetrap racers.
Lowering the ride height can reduce the drag by decreasing the amount of air that flows underneath the car, creating less turbulence and lift. Lift is the force that pushes the car upwards, reducing its stability and traction.
Since the energy of the mousetrap spring is fixed, certain factors will make it easier to get the car to roll. Lighter cars take less energy to roll. While a longer lever, and string, can make a car travel farther, if the lever is too long it will not have enough force to get the car to roll.
Another string method can be set-up so that the string, with a washer tied to the end, is pulled through a metal loop and drags behind a mousetrap car. The string is also tied to one of the axles and is pulled closer to a lock that will stop the brake axle from turning.
Some of the things you can do if the mice in your home are a little too cunning are to study their activity or put less bait on the traps. You may also use baits like peanut butter or change your usual traps. Other ways you can try are getting nesting materials, placing the bait and trap right, or adding more traps.
Longer lever arms will extend the time in which the axle is pulled, making it travel longer distances before the car reaches maximum speed. As a result, it will go slower but move further.
Reducing weight is the simplest way to both increase speed and distance that your mousetrap vehicle can travel. This is because of the power to weight ratio, which is the proportion between the energy a vehicle has and the weight of that vehicle.
The mousetrap is mounted on a chassis with front and rear wheels. The bar attached to the spring on the trap is extended or replaced by a longer lever arm. A string is attached to the lever arm and wrapped around the rear axle.
Wheels and Axles
By changing the size of the drive wheel(s) you can speed-up or slow-down your mousetrap vehicle. Larger drive wheels have a greater travel distance per each turn compared to smaller drive wheel.
Essential oils: Strong scents like peppermint, eucalyptus, or citronella can keep mice at bay. Bay leaves: Mice are repulsed by their smell, so scatter some around. Cat litter: The scent of a predator can be a powerful deterrent. DIY mouse traps: If you're handy, you can craft traps using buckets, ramps, and bait.
Because CDs and DVDs are some of the best wheels you will ever find for building a long distance mousetrap powered vehicle. CD/DVD wheels can slice through the air with very little air resistance and they have very little rotational inertia.
Overall, any light type of material should work well.
If your mousetrap car does not travel straight energy is also being wasted to over come the force of friction turning the vehicle's wheels. If a mousetrap vehicle is not traveling straight then there is one reason and one reason only: the front and rear axles are not parallel to one another!