Mousetrap+Competition

Mousetrap Ping Pong Launcher



For more information on the Physics of the mousetrap, click here

Sample Projects

__**Goal:**__ Using two standard mousetraps, construct a launching vehicle that will a) travel from the start line, 10 meters to the launching lane, and stopping in the firing area b) fire as many ping pong balls (1 at a time) into the target area, earning the most points possible, during a 1 minute time

1)Rube Goldberg Essay 20 points 2) Drawn Prototype describing the step-by-step motion of the mousetrap vehicle and labeling all functioning parts 20 points 3) Daily logbook entries - written in detail describing each step you took during the period, why you did it, how it worked (pictures included on Days 2-10) 5 points each (55 points total) 4) Launch Zone Landing 20 points 5) Competition Points - 1st place 20 pts, 2nd 18 pts, 3rd 16 pts, etc.... 6) Reflection - 20 points
 * __Grading__**

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 * Day 1 - Honda Rube Goldberg Video**
 * If the video does not show up below, please click here.**

While watching this video, write a detailed essay of the step-by-step interactions that happen as each car part hits one another. Describe the motions of the objects, the forces that must have been present, why the parts moved or reacted the way they did. After describing the pattern that did happen, discuss how you could have adjusted some of the parts but still have the same results. (20 points)


 * Day 2, 3, 4, 5 - Building the Moving Car**

You will have three days to design, build, and begin testing your moving vehicle. The __**only source of energy**__ to move your mousetrap is the spring of the mousetrap. It cannot be altered in any way. You cannot move the mousetrap with any body part or anything else you can think of. The car must travel 10 m (from the start line to the center of the firing area) to the launch zone which will be a 1 m x 2 m firing area. Stopping in the center 0.5 m x 0.5 m portion of the launch zone will earn you 20 points, stopping in the outer 1 m x 1m portion will earn you 10 points. You will still be able to compete in the launching portion of the competition if you miss the launch zone, you just won't receive any points.


 * Day 6, 7, 8, 9 - Building your Launching Device**

You will have three days to design, build, and begin testing the launching mousetrap of your vehicle. You are aiming for the target board. It has 3 different point range areas for the ping pong balls to come to a rest in. You will have 1 minute to launch as many ping pong balls as possible. The second mousetrap will work the launching portion. You will use a pencil to trigger the launch. You do not have to wait for the original ping pong ball to land/settle before launching another ping pong ball. Your launching device must be attached to your vehicle at all times. The mouse trap must swing the launching arm. Holes will be 10 feet from the firing zone.


 * Day 10 & 11 - Testing, Redesign, Testing**

Continue testing, redesigning, and testing your mousetrap vehicle


 * Day 12 - Competition**

We will have a 3-round competition. All teams will compete in round 1. The points will be awarded for the launch zone in this round. Assuming we have 8 teams, the top 5 will move on to round 2. Then the top 3 teams will move to Round 3 where the winner will be crowned. Scores will be tallied based on the ping pong balls landing in the holes.


 * Day 13 - Reflection**

Given your project and the knowledge you have gained, write an advice column story to someone else that would be assigned this project. Describe what you did, if did or did not work and how you would attack the project again.