There are both contact and distance forces involved. The contact forces include normal force, friction, tension force, and spring force (from the mousetrap). The two distance forces are gravitational force and air resistance. The motion of the car depends on these forces.
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How does Newton’s third law relate to mousetrap car?
A car is propelled forward because the drive wheels push on the road and the floor pushes back against the wheels of the car causing the car to move.
What makes a mousetrap car go faster?
If you haven’t realized it yet, increasing the length of the lever arm attached to the mousetrap, increases the total mechanical advantage of the car. Therefore, to increase your car’s speed, you can reduce the length of the lever arm attached to the mousetrap.
How does a mousetrap car demonstrate Newton’s second law?
How does a mousetrap car function?
A mousetrap car works on the principle of a lever. One end of the lever is connected to a spring. When a force is used to pull up the other end of the lever up, the spring tightens, storing energy. When the lever is released, the stored energy in the spring is transferred back to the lever, and the end snaps back.
What two types of friction affect a mousetrap car?
This energy is used to overcome friction and propel the vehicle. The less friction acting against a moving mousetrap car, the less energy that is consumed to friction and the further that the vehicle will travel. A moving mousetrap car is affected by two type of friction: airfriction and bearing friction.
How does mass affect a mousetrap car?
As the center of mass begins to fall towards a more stable position the wheel begins to rotate, causing the car to move either backward or forward. If the car moves forward, it will gain additional distance after stopping, but there is no way to predict where the center of mass will come to rest when the car stops.
How does torque affect a mousetrap car?
As torque relates to a mousetrap-powered vehicle, a torque is applied to the wheels by pulling the wound string from the drive axle. The mouse trap’s lever arm applies a force to the drive axle that causes the drive axle to pivot or rotate thereby causing the vehicle to move.
How do Newton’s laws of motion apply to mousetrap powered vehicles?
The mouse trap car relates to Newtons first law because the car does not move until the force of the mousetrap moves it and then it doesn’t stop until it hits something or until gravity finally stops it. – Newtons second law: Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass.
Is 3 or 4 wheels better for a mousetrap car?
So what is better, three wheels or four wheels? The answer depends on the contest, if we are to build a super fast accelerating speed-trap racer then over coming rotational inertia is one of the main objectives therefor three wheels will always do better than four wheels when it comes to performance.
How do mousetrap cars reduce friction?
Try to have a minimum gap of 1/8 inch between the frame and any spacers (or wheels) in order to decrease any rubbing friction. Use thrust washers and graphite powder between spacers (or wheels) and the frame to help reduce the rubbing friction.
How does a mousetrap create potential energy?
When a mousetrap is set, the spring in the center is compressed, becoming a source full of potential energy. This energy is being stored, not used, but as soon as the trap is released, it is converted to kinetic energy (the energy of motion) that propels the snapper arm forward.
What are the 2 forces acting on a car?
A car moving at a constant speed (uniform motion) has all forces acting on it balanced. In this case, the two backward forces (air resistance and friction) perfectly balance the applied force of the wheels on the road in the opposite direction.
How do the cars use Newton’s 1st law of motion?
If a car is moving and then suddenly runs into something, like a wall or another car, that thing acts as an unbalanced force that stops the car abruptly. Since seat belts are part of the car, anyone in the car will also have their motion stopped abruptly if they’re wearing a seat belt.
How does a mousetrap car adapt to distance?
To adapt your mousetrap car for distance, use large, light wheels for less friction and greater inertia. For example, old CDs make great wheels to increase distance. If your car is a rear-wheel drive car, set the wheels on a narrow rear axle so the wheels turn more and travel further.
How do you increase the friction of a mousetrap car?
Larger diameter axles have greater friction when compared to the same axle of a smaller diameter. With a smaller diameter axle the force of friction is applied closer to the center of rotation and applies less torque than a larger diameter axle. Try to select axles that are equal to or less than 3/16 inch in diameter.
How does Newton’s 3rd law of motion apply to hovercrafts?
Newton’s Third Law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, the action force is the air that is released from the balloon. The reaction force is the force that lifts the hovercraft upward.
Should a mousetrap car be light or heavy?
Reduce the most friction you can because the more friction the more energy is lost in propelling the car. Mass should also be taken into account, the more the car weighs the more energy from the mousetrap spring will be used so it’ll be best to make the car light weight.
What kind of string is best for a mousetrap car?
The string has to be strong enough to handle the pulling force but flexible and thin enough to wind tightly around the drive axle. We recommend using a Kevlar based fishing line because its high strength. You should stay away from nylon fishing line and dental floss, these do not work well with mousetrap racers.
Is weight important in a mousetrap car?
To maximize the distance traveled on a flat surface, the friction (internal and external) and the weight of the car must be kept as small as possible. Specifically, this means that: All the components of the mousetrap car must weigh as little as possible, while being strong enough for use in the car.
How does the conservation of energy apply to a mousetrap car?
Loading the spring of a mouse trap stores potential energy and when that spring is released the potential energy is turns into kinetic energy or the energy of motion but the total amount of energy that the system starts with will always be the same as the energy the system ends with.
What type of energy does a mousetrap have?
ELASTIC POTENTIAL ENERGY (EPE). The energy stored in a mousetrap spring is found using the formula : EPE = ยฝ๏k๏ฮธ2, where k is spring constant of the mousetrap spring, a measure of how “tough” the spring is and ๏ฑ is the angle (in radians) the torsional mousetrap spring compresses.
Where is energy lost in the mousetrap car?
Friction converts the energy of a moving objects into heat and sound and this will eventually causes a moving object to come to a stop. Energy is not destroyed by this process but it is being converted into heat and sound.
What is the equation for figuring out your speed with the mousetrap car?
How does a car move physics?
The frictional force between the road and tire is what allows the tire to “push” off the road, thus moving the car forward (Newton’s third law โ the action is the pushing frictional force, the reaction is the forward movement of the car).