How to Make Mousetrap Vehicles

You can usually construct a mousetrap car with items that you already have around the house. Building a mousetrap car with children is a wonderful way to pass the time on a rainy day. Older children can learn about different principles of physics, while exploring their engineering side, by tinkering with the basic design of this mousetrap vehicle.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mousetrap
• String
• 4 CDs
• 2 Plain pens with tips, ends and ink removed
• 4 Eye screws
• 4 Metal washers
• 4 Rubber washers
• Tape
• Super Glue
• Scissors

Making a Mousetrap Vehicle

1. Attach two eye screws to each short end of the mousetrap. Measure to ensure that the eye screws line up before screwing them into the mousetrap.

2. Slide your empty pen tubes through the eye screws to create the axles of your car.

3. Slide the rubber washers onto the axles, placing them just outside the eye screws, so the axles stay in place.

4. Wrap tape around each end of each axle until they fit snuggly through your CDs. Use super glue to hold the wheels in place on top of the tape.

5. Tie one end of your string to the part of the mousetrap that snaps closed. Set the mousetrap.

6. Wrap the other end of the string around the back axle between the two eye screws.

7. Spring the mousetrap when you are ready for the car to go.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut a thin strip of balloon to wrap around your wheels if they need more traction. Attach a long wooden dowel to the part of the mousetrap that snaps if you want your car to travel farther. Tie the string to the end of the dowel rather than to the mousetrap.

References

• Mousetrap Car