How to Adapt a Mousetrap Car for Distance
Use large rear wheels., Use thin, light wheels., Use a narrow rear axle., Create traction by giving the edges of the wheels friction.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Use large rear wheels.
Large wheels have greater rotational inertia than small wheels.
In practical terms, this means that once they start rolling, they're harder to stop rolling.
This makes large wheels perfect for distance-based contests — theoretically, they'll accelerate less quickly than smaller wheels, but they'll roll much longer and they'll travel a greater distance overall.
So, for maximum distance, make the wheels on the drive axle (the one the mousetrap is tied to, which is usually the rear one) very large.
The front wheel is a little less important — it can be large or small.
For a classic drag racer look, you'll want big wheels in the back and smaller ones in front. -
Step 2: Use thin
Thinner wheels have less friction and may go farther if distance is what you want or need with your mousetrap racer.
It's also important to take the weight of the wheels themselves into account — any unneeded weight will ultimately slow your car down or lead to added friction.
In addition, it's worth noting that wide wheels can even have a small negative effect on the car's drag due to air resistance.
For these reasons, you'll want to use the thinnest, lightest wheels available for your car.
Old CDs or DVDs work fairly well for this purpose — they're large, thin, and extremely light.
In this case, a plumbing washer may be used to reduce the hole size in the middle of the CD (to fit the axle better).
If you have access to old vinyl records, these also work extremely well, though they may be too heavy for the smallest mousetraps. , Assuming your car is a rear-wheel drive car, each time your rear axle turns, the rear wheels turn.
If your rear axle is extremely skinny, your mousetrap car will be able to turn it more times for the same length of string than it would if it were wider.
This translates to turning your rear wheels more times, meaning greater distance! For this reason, it's a wise idea to make your axle out of the skinniest material available that can still support the weight of the frame and wheels.
Narrow wooden dowel rods are a great, easily-accessible choice here.
If you have access to thin metal rods, these are even better — when lubricated, they usually have less friction. , If the wheels slip against the ground, when the trap is sprung, energy is wasted — the mousetrap works to make the wheels turn, but you don't get any extra distance.
If this happens with your car, adding a friction-inducing material to the rear wheels may reduce their slippage.
To keep your weight requirements down, use only as much as is necessary to give the tips of the wheels some grip and no extra.
Some suitable materials are:
Electrical tape Rubber bands Popped balloon rubber Additionally, placing a piece of sandpaper under the rear wheels at the start line can reduce slippage as the car begins to move (when it is most likely). -
Step 3: light wheels.
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Step 4: Use a narrow rear axle.
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Step 5: Create traction by giving the edges of the wheels friction.
Detailed Guide
Large wheels have greater rotational inertia than small wheels.
In practical terms, this means that once they start rolling, they're harder to stop rolling.
This makes large wheels perfect for distance-based contests — theoretically, they'll accelerate less quickly than smaller wheels, but they'll roll much longer and they'll travel a greater distance overall.
So, for maximum distance, make the wheels on the drive axle (the one the mousetrap is tied to, which is usually the rear one) very large.
The front wheel is a little less important — it can be large or small.
For a classic drag racer look, you'll want big wheels in the back and smaller ones in front.
Thinner wheels have less friction and may go farther if distance is what you want or need with your mousetrap racer.
It's also important to take the weight of the wheels themselves into account — any unneeded weight will ultimately slow your car down or lead to added friction.
In addition, it's worth noting that wide wheels can even have a small negative effect on the car's drag due to air resistance.
For these reasons, you'll want to use the thinnest, lightest wheels available for your car.
Old CDs or DVDs work fairly well for this purpose — they're large, thin, and extremely light.
In this case, a plumbing washer may be used to reduce the hole size in the middle of the CD (to fit the axle better).
If you have access to old vinyl records, these also work extremely well, though they may be too heavy for the smallest mousetraps. , Assuming your car is a rear-wheel drive car, each time your rear axle turns, the rear wheels turn.
If your rear axle is extremely skinny, your mousetrap car will be able to turn it more times for the same length of string than it would if it were wider.
This translates to turning your rear wheels more times, meaning greater distance! For this reason, it's a wise idea to make your axle out of the skinniest material available that can still support the weight of the frame and wheels.
Narrow wooden dowel rods are a great, easily-accessible choice here.
If you have access to thin metal rods, these are even better — when lubricated, they usually have less friction. , If the wheels slip against the ground, when the trap is sprung, energy is wasted — the mousetrap works to make the wheels turn, but you don't get any extra distance.
If this happens with your car, adding a friction-inducing material to the rear wheels may reduce their slippage.
To keep your weight requirements down, use only as much as is necessary to give the tips of the wheels some grip and no extra.
Some suitable materials are:
Electrical tape Rubber bands Popped balloon rubber Additionally, placing a piece of sandpaper under the rear wheels at the start line can reduce slippage as the car begins to move (when it is most likely).
About the Author
Marilyn Long
Marilyn Long is an experienced writer with over 23 years of expertise in lifestyle and practical guides. Passionate about sharing practical knowledge, Marilyn creates easy-to-follow guides that help readers achieve their goals.
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