Mousetrap
Car
Each
team will enter one mousetrap powered car, built by both team members.
A regular mousetrap shall be used to propel a student designed and constructed car. The car
shall not include any parts from a commercial mouse trap car kit. The car
must meet the following requirements:
-
The car shall
have a minimum of two wheels in contact with the testing surface at all
times.
-
The sole power
source of the car shall be a mousetrap as a part of the car.
-
The trip mechanism
may be removed.
-
A maximum of four
holes may be drilled through the base for screws or bolts to secure the
trap to the car frame.
-
A wire, string
or cable may be attached to the bow for transmission of energy.
-
In the cocked
position the only part of the car that may touch the trap is the frame
and the energy conveying cable, string or wire.
-
The length of
the unaltered bow shall not exceed 6 cm. The length of the bow will be
measured from the base with the bow perpendicular to the base.
-
Each device must
conform to the following maximum dimensions: 30 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm.
-
The car must travel
within a 3 m wide lane.
-
Each car should
travel 5 m to score well. A car not traveling 5 m past the start line will
be assigned a time twice the greatest time recorded by any car.
The Competition:
The car will be allowed an infinite number of trials to determine the best distance.
The car may be launched from any point within the start zone. The distance
will be measured from the midpoint of the start line to the stopping point
or to the point the car intersects either side boundary or the end line. Cars must be
self starting-no pushing for starts.
Points will be awarded based upon your ranking on the leader board.