Physical+Science+Junior+High

Project: Mousetrap Cars
Students are designing and building cars powered by the force of the arm of a mousetrap. They will be building their cars in class from materials they collect at home and will need to develop three sets of rear wheels (based on diameter) and three lengths for the mousetrap arm. After time trials, students will use their data to create a graph and compare the relationships and describe the motions based the variables used.

Rubric/Requirements for Projects

 * Total: 60 points**
 * (5 pts) Must use wheels.
 * (5 pts) Must use the mousetrap.
 * (5 pts) Make a body of some kind for your racecar.
 * (15 pts) Bring materials.
 * (15 pts) Building the car. Each student must have their own car. If you work with a partner, 2 cars will need to be built.
 * (5 pts) Creativity.
 * (10 pts) The car must work. The mousetrap lever provides force for the string wrapped around the axle causing the car to move forward at least 20 centimeters.

Students will then run time trials with their cars to collect data.
 * **Data Sheet for Time Trials**: [[file:MouseTrapCars.xls]]

Essential Questions for Focus

 * In what ways can motion be described?
 * In what ways can motion be described on a graph?
 * What are variables that can impact distance and velocity?

Previously Visited Terms

 * axle
 * direction
 * distance
 * force
 * kinetic energy
 * lever
 * motion
 * position
 * potential energy
 * relative distance
 * relative position
 * wheel

Terms to Know

 * acceleration
 * change
 * friction
 * inertia
 * momentum
 * point of reference
 * ratio
 * resistance
 * tension
 * velocity