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MOUSETRAP CAR PROJECT: Reflection Paper.

One of the first challenges we faced as we built the mouse trap car was figuring out how to properly attach the string to the rear axle to propel car. We figured we would make notches and use the rubber washer to firmly hold the string. We also realized that having only one main arm would work better because with two the car wouldn’t start. We also had a debate over the starting mechanism we would use get the car moving without pushing it; so first we used a stick to activate it, but we felt it was propelling the car forward, so one team member suggested using a string and wrapped under the car to pull it. We also decided to use a longer arm to make it travel farther. We had to decide where to place the mouse trap, and we chose to put it at the front so we can have the arm travel farther. We also placed a rubber band on the wheel located in the side of where the string attached to the axel. Wood glue was used to securely hold all the parts and avoid damage, and to hold the arm in place we solder to the mouse trap arm. The last problem we fixed was a way to let the string detach from the arm after the car was set in motion; we found that if the string stayed it eventually would stop the car by winding the other direction. We solved it by putting a stopper on the hook end of the arm so when the arm would be parallel to the ground, the string would fall and would let the car move freely

This project helps demonstrate that learning is about finding problems and asking questions that will lead you to a better approach or an actual solution. A lot of learning is by trial and error. You have an initial idea and then must you try it; if it doesn’t work you move on to the next solution; if it works then you can improve the solution until you are satisfied with the outcome. We as a group definitely went through the before mentioned process, and for example we tried vinyl records for as wheels but found that they were too heavy for our design so we went back to using compact discs. Another example was the length of wire; if it was too long the mouse trap couldn’t start.

The assignment also shows how by being in this class one starts looking at everyday things in a different ways. A lot of basic things we take for granted now make sense by looking them from a physics point of view, like spinning a ketchup container to get the last bit of it, or looking at a car alternator or even your washing machines centrifugal drums to extract the water. Everything is governed by physics and the mouse trap car is an good small scale project to see some of the principles we learned about physics during the semester.