ENGR 110
MOUSE TRAP CAR DESIGN PROJECT REPORT
Liberty University
ENGR 110-002
Define the problem
A team of 4 students was made to construct a vehicle powered solely by a standard mouse trap
that stores potential energy using a spring.
Background research
4 methods of research were done before constructing the mouse trap car. First, looking at
previous MTCs that were made by students which gave the ability to have an outer picture of
how the car is supposed to look like, and what kind of material should be used to maximize the
performance of the car. Second, watching YouTube videos aimed in the process of constructing
the car by showing the optimum way of how to build the car and how to connect its parts,
especially the wheels and the bearings to the axile. Third, speaking to mentors and other
engineers has helped in avoiding mistakes that could be made since they have built MTCs before.
They also Helped with improving the car’s performance by giving advice on how to obtain the
maximum potential energy from the mouse trap. Finally, Research on physics principles for
mechanical advantages on the lever arm has been made, this method helped in getting the
maximum speed and the furthest distance for the car. Also, researching the principle of inertia
which is how “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the
same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force”1 and how that
relates to friction which is the reason why the car would stop.
, Specify requirements
Criteria
· Create a design that will go a maximum sped from 0-5 meters.
· Create a design that will travel the greatest distance.
· Create a design that can hold 100-300g and can travel 5-10 meters.
Constrains
· Use a single victor mouse trap as the engine of your MTC.
· Utilize the Arduino in a functional way.
· Utilize the Maker Space in your design and construction.
· Demonstrate an understanding of physics principals used in your MTC design.
· Create a model that will help you determine the time and distance traveled by your MTC with
various combinations of distance (5-10M) and weight (100-300g).
Timeline:
Brainstorm, evaluate, and choose solution
The team has taken ideas from the research process and applying them to the first design.
Pictures were drawn for the mouse trap car, and after drawing couple of pictures, the team has
made a decision about the how the car should look like.
MOUSE TRAP CAR DESIGN PROJECT REPORT
Liberty University
ENGR 110-002
Define the problem
A team of 4 students was made to construct a vehicle powered solely by a standard mouse trap
that stores potential energy using a spring.
Background research
4 methods of research were done before constructing the mouse trap car. First, looking at
previous MTCs that were made by students which gave the ability to have an outer picture of
how the car is supposed to look like, and what kind of material should be used to maximize the
performance of the car. Second, watching YouTube videos aimed in the process of constructing
the car by showing the optimum way of how to build the car and how to connect its parts,
especially the wheels and the bearings to the axile. Third, speaking to mentors and other
engineers has helped in avoiding mistakes that could be made since they have built MTCs before.
They also Helped with improving the car’s performance by giving advice on how to obtain the
maximum potential energy from the mouse trap. Finally, Research on physics principles for
mechanical advantages on the lever arm has been made, this method helped in getting the
maximum speed and the furthest distance for the car. Also, researching the principle of inertia
which is how “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the
same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force”1 and how that
relates to friction which is the reason why the car would stop.
, Specify requirements
Criteria
· Create a design that will go a maximum sped from 0-5 meters.
· Create a design that will travel the greatest distance.
· Create a design that can hold 100-300g and can travel 5-10 meters.
Constrains
· Use a single victor mouse trap as the engine of your MTC.
· Utilize the Arduino in a functional way.
· Utilize the Maker Space in your design and construction.
· Demonstrate an understanding of physics principals used in your MTC design.
· Create a model that will help you determine the time and distance traveled by your MTC with
various combinations of distance (5-10M) and weight (100-300g).
Timeline:
Brainstorm, evaluate, and choose solution
The team has taken ideas from the research process and applying them to the first design.
Pictures were drawn for the mouse trap car, and after drawing couple of pictures, the team has
made a decision about the how the car should look like.
