How Can I Build a Mousetrap Car That Lifts?
A mousetrap car is a fun toy to build, one that is often used by science teachers to help instill scientific principles. A mousetrap car can be built either to be very fast or to cover long distances, but not both. In the case of a fast mousetrap car, with a minor modification, the front end of the car can lift and make wheelies. To build a mousetrap car that lifts, you'll need a fast mousetrap car along with a pair of wide rubber bands.
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Things You'll Need
- Two 6-inch strips of 1/4-inch thick balsa wood
- 1 1/2-inch-diameter round pieces of 1/2-inch plywood, 4 pieces
- 4-inch piece of 1/4-inch-diameter wooden dowel
- Two wide rubber bands
- Epoxy or wood glue
- Mousetrap
- Power drill with drill bits
- Pliers
- Ruler
- Scissors
- String
- Wire cutters
- Wire coat hanger
Instructions
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1
Remove the bait holder and catch wire from a mousetrap with a pair of pliers. Cut one side of the spring-loaded snap at the base, and straighten out the two 90-degree bends in the snap to make one long, spring-loaded lever arm. Trim the lever arm to a length of 3-inches from the base, then bend a short 90-degree angle in the tip of the lever arm.
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2
Position the two pieces of balsa wood with the wide sides aligned. Drill a 5/32-inch hole through both pieces centered about 1/2-inch in from one end. Then, drill a 9/32-inch hole 1/2-inch in from the opposite end of the boards.
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3
Drill a 1/4-inch diameter hole directly through the center of two of the four round pieces of plywood, and a 1/8-inch diameter hole through the center of the other two round pieces. These four round pieces will be the wheels of the car.
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4
Glue a rubber band onto the edge of the two wheels with 1/4-inch holes in the center. These rubber bands will help the car grip to the track's surface.
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5
Cut a straight 4-inch-long piece of coat hanger wire. Insert this wire through the two small holes in the balsa wood, and then glue the two wheels with 1/8-inch holes onto the two ends of the wire.
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6
Insert the 1/4-inch dowel into the two larger holes in the balsa wood, and then affix one of the two wheels with rubber band tires onto each end of the dowel.
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7
Drill a short 1/8-inch hole in the center of the rear axle (the wooden dowel). The hole should not protrude all the way through the dowel. Use wire cutters to cut a 1/4-inch piece of coat hanger wire, and glue it into the hole.
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8
Position the mousetrap over the two balsa rails with the spring wire lever arm facing forward. Glue the mousetrap onto the two rails, and set the unit aside for 24 hours to allow the glue to dry.
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9
Cut a 6-inch piece of string, and tie a loop in one end. Tie the other end of the string to the end of the wire lever arm, so that the loop is just short of the hook in the center of the axle.
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10
Bend the spring-loaded lever arm toward the rear of the car, and hook the loop over the hook in the center of the axle. Rotate the car's rear wheels in reverse, winding the string around the axle. Keep winding the wheels until the lever arm is flat against the mousetrap on the rear of the car. Hold the lever arm against the base of the mousetrap.
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11
Place the car on a flat surface, pointing in the direction you want the car to travel. Release the spring-loaded lever arm, and the car should lurch forward. If the wheels have enough traction, the front of the car should easily lift off of the track.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit mousetrap-american coin image by William Berry from Fotolia.com
