 Students will build a vehicle solely powered by a standard mousetrap to :  9 th /10 th Accuracy – closest to 5 meter target  11 th /12 th Power – farthest up a 30º ramp  Materials:  1 standard mousetrap  All other materials are legal  NO KITS!  Students will build a vehicle solely powered by a standard mousetrap to :  9 th /10 th Accuracy – closest to 5 meter target  11 th /12 th Power – farthest up a 30º ramp  Materials:  1 standard mousetrap  All other materials are legal  NO KITS!

 READ RULES AT LEAST TWICE!!  Mousetrap is ONLY source of energy  Don’t tamper with mousetrap:  No paint  No decoration  Alteration allowed ONLY for attaching mousetrap to chassis  Spring may not be altered  READ RULES AT LEAST TWICE…again!!  READ RULES AT LEAST TWICE!!  Mousetrap is ONLY source of energy  Don’t tamper with mousetrap:  No paint  No decoration  Alteration allowed ONLY for attaching mousetrap to chassis  Spring may not be altered  READ RULES AT LEAST TWICE…again!!

WAIT…DON’T FORGET…  For 9 th -10 th Accuracy 1/8 “ Diameter

 Energy from spring is transferred to car via the lever arm  Lever arm provides torque required to turn axles  Energy from spring is transferred to car via the lever arm  Lever arm provides torque required to turn axles Length of lever arm affects power output Shorter arm = faster output Longer arm = slower output

 # of wheels : 3 or 4  Wheel radius  The greater the radius, the greater the torque required to rotate the axle  Wheel grip (traction)  Essential for going up a ramp  Power output must match wheel grip to avoid spinning  Ratio of wheel-to-axle  Larger ratio good for distance, but not necessary for accuracy and power  Friction  Reduce friction between wheels and surface  Also between axle and chassis  Alignment  # of wheels : 3 or 4  Wheel radius  The greater the radius, the greater the torque required to rotate the axle  Wheel grip (traction)  Essential for going up a ramp  Power output must match wheel grip to avoid spinning  Ratio of wheel-to-axle  Larger ratio good for distance, but not necessary for accuracy and power  Friction  Reduce friction between wheels and surface  Also between axle and chassis  Alignment

 The body of the car  Balsawood, plastic, other lightweight materials  Mass  The heavier the car, the greater the friction force with the surface  More force required to actually move the car  Long chassis vs. Short chassis  Narrow vs Wide  Aerodynamic (reduce drag)  The body of the car  Balsawood, plastic, other lightweight materials  Mass  The heavier the car, the greater the friction force with the surface  More force required to actually move the car  Long chassis vs. Short chassis  Narrow vs Wide  Aerodynamic (reduce drag)

 Research, research, research!  Experimentation is the key  Set a working timeline  READ THE RULES….twice….again!!  HAVE FUN!!!: It’s not the end of the world.

Marvin Maldonado Associate Director, UCI MESA