http://www.wordreference.com/definition/
DESIGN IDEAS:
http://www.mousetrap-cars.com/distance_pics.htm
KNOWLEDGEABLE SOURCE:
http://www.docfizzix.com/help.htm
DESIGN CHOICES:
So for our car, the first step was establishing the design for our mouse trap car.
>>>Most of it was done by trial and error<<<
WHEELS: We orignially had a problem deciding whether to use three or four wheels, but decided on four wheels for balance. Rather than deciding to take a risk, we decided to play it safe. *It wasn't ti'll later that we realized that there is a differnce in the friction points for a car with 3 wheels then one with 4. In our case, it would've been better to use 3 wheels because that means less wheels to align*
>>>In the VERY end, we used 2 records (one Beatles, much to Natalie's dismay) for the back wheels and two CDs for the front ones.
FRAME: At first, we were going to go with the basic frame from the book we researched in, making a chassis out of jinx wood, but then it was decided to use choroplaste. Choroplast is a light-weight material (shaped kind of like cardboard) and we simply glued a piece of jinx wood in the center for support.
>>>For the frame, we went with a simple rectangular, narrow and long piece of choroplast, nothing complicated here.
EXTRAS:
~For the transmission, we built one with three levels, wrapping most of the string attached to the lever around the smallest level and the least around the largest.
~For the string, we used just enough, not an excessive amount and too little. So at the end, the mouse trap will be able to spring, giving our car a little more of a push to free-wheel in the end.
~For the thrust washers, we used normal craft beads which were used to keep the wheels from rubbing against our frame. (We had enough surface friction as it was already).
~For the axle, we originally made holes into the jinx wood and attached it to frame (choroplast) but we were told that already it had too much suface friction which could have easily been reduced. So instead we took some bolt and attached it on top and thus lessening the surface friction greatly.
>The axle itself, we used shish kabob (wow took me a while to find out how to spell that) sticks.
Overall, I think we could have done some changes here and there for a greater design overall, but I'm pretty happy because in the end we learned what we we did wrong and what we could to in the future.
