Mousetrap Car Project
OBJECTIVES


design a mousetrap car that will travel a maximum DISPLACEMENT
demonstrate an understanding of the physics principles incorporated
in your design (in a written report).
DESIGN INSTRUCTIONS
1. The vehicle must be powered by a single supplied by your instructor (no
rat traps allowed). You are not allowed to "heat treat" the spring to enhance
tensile strength.
2. You have complete design freedom concerning vehicle size, vehicle weight,
and materials used (except for the mouse trap "engine").
3. CAR-KITS PURCHASED AT A HOBBY STORE OR ON-LINE ARE
ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED. The intent of this project is for you to
research, design, and build your own car from "scratch" i.e. from individual
components you have purchased, already have on hand at home or made.
Please be aware that I am confident in my ability to identify purchased kits.
Parts from toys (Example: tires from models, K'NEX parts, Erector Set
parts, etc) are allowed if prior approved either before or at checkpoint 1.
4. You will not be permitted to "push start" your vehicle i.e. upon release,
your vehicle must start moving on its own.
5. Only final displacement will be measured; "total distance traveled " does
not count (i.e. the straighter the travel line, the better your grade will be).
6. Displacement will be measured from the starting line position to the
front-most part of the vehicle at its final resting point.
7. Your goal is 10 meters or more. All cars must achieve a minimum of 1
meter displacement. Car performance is a significant part of your project
grade so test your design, make improvements and then test some more!
Mousetrap Car Rubric
Section
Mousetrap
Car
Construction
Weight: 3
Mousetrap
Car
Displacement
4
Exceeds
Standard
3
Meets
Standard
Neat construction and
assembly. Excellent attention
to detail. Excellent use of
materials and creativity in
design.
Neat construction and
assembly. Excellent attention
to detail. Good use of
materials. Demonstrates
some creativity in design.
Good construction and
assembly and good attention
to detail. Appropriate use of
materials. Demonstrates
minimal creativity in design.
Final displacement is greater
than 15 meters.
Final displacement is
between 11 and 14 meters.
Final displacement is
between 5 and 10 meters.
Includes excellent graphical
analysis of motion of
mousetrap car. Evidence of
several trials. More than one
kind of graph is included.
Includes high quality data
tables and graphs.
Includes good graphical
analysis of motion of
mousetrap car. Evidence of
several trials. More than one
kind of graph included.
Includes quality data tables
and graphs.
Includes good graphical
analysis of motion of
mousetrap car. Evidence of
several trials. Quality data
table and graph included.
Includes minimal graphical
analysis of motion of the
mousetrap car. Trials
limited. Includes average
quality data table and graph.
Demonstrates excellent
conceptual understanding of
physics principles behind a
mousetrap car. Utilizes
experimental documentation to
illustrate significant
understanding of key
principles. Effectively uses
graphics to explain key ideas.
Demonstrates good
conceptual understanding of
physics principles behind a
mousetrap car. Uses
evidence from project to
demonstrate understanding
of key principles. Effectively
uses graphics to explain key
ideas.
Demonstrates good
conceptual understanding of
physics principles behind a
mousetrap car, such as but
not limited to: wheel-to-axle
diameter ratio, lever arm
length, material selection,
overall mass, friction,
Newton’s laws. Uses
graphics to explain key ideas.
Excellent explanation of the
strengths and weaknesses of
mousetrap car design and
performance. Excellent
analysis of sources of error
and suggestions for redesign.
Excellent explanation of the
strengths and weaknesses of
mousetrap car design and
performance. Good analysis
of sources of error and
suggestions for redesign.
Good explanation of the
strengths and weaknesses of
mousetrap car design and
performance. Good analysis
of sources of error. Minimal
suggestions for redesign.
Report flows in a logical
manner from start to finish,
and finishes with a thoughtful
conclusion. Well-organized
and written with no spelling or
grammar mistakes.
Exceptional presentation of
report.
Report flows in a logical
manner from start to finish,
and finishes with a thoughtful
conclusion. Report is well
organized and written, with
few spelling or grammar
mistakes. Professional
presentation throughout.
Report flows in a logical
manner from start to finish,
and finishes with a thoughtful
conclusion. Report is well
organized and written, with
few spelling or grammar
mistakes. Professional
presentation throughout.
Demonstrates limited
conceptual understanding of
physics principles behind a
mousetrap car. Shows an
understanding of less than
five key physics principles,
such as but not limited to:
wheel-to-axle diameter ratio,
lever arm length, material
selection, overall mass,
friction, Newton’s laws.
Poor explanation of the
strengths and weaknesses of
mousetrap car design and
performance. Poor analysis
of sources of error. Minimal
or no suggestions for
redesign.
Report flows awkwardly from
start to finish. Several errors
or grammar mistakes are
present. Presentation is not
professional throughout.
5
Advanced Achievement
2
Approaching
Standard
1
Working Toward
Standard
Car holds together, but
looks like a last-minute
project.
Poor construction and
assembly. No attention to
detail.
Final displacement is
between 1 and 3 meters.
Final displacement is less
than 1 m, but car does
actually move.
Weight: 3
Mousetrap
Car
Graphical
Analysis of
Motion
Includes poor graphical
analysis of motion of the
mousetrap car. Very few or
only one trial conducted.
Poor quality data table and
graph.
Weight: 2
Mousetrap
Car
Conceptual
Physics
Analysis
Weight: 5
Mousetrap
Car
Conclusion
Weight: 3
Quality of
Mousetrap
Car Report
Weight:; 1
Demonstrates limited
conceptual understanding of
physics principles behind a
mousetrap car. Shows an
understanding of less than
three key physics principles,
such as but not limited to:
wheel-to-axle diameter ratio,
lever arm length, material
selection, overall mass,
friction, Newton’s laws.
Poor explanation of the
strengths and weaknesses of
mousetrap car design and
performance. No analysis of
sources of error. No
suggestions for redesign.
Report flows awkwardly from
start to finish. Errors in
spelling and/or grammar
interfere with the flow of the
report. Report is poorly
organized and written.
Presentation is not
professional.
0
No
Attempt
Score