Q&A for How to Adapt a Mousetrap Car for Speed

It depends on the materials used and strategies for creating one. There are thousands of different types of mousetrap cars. If you just want a simple one that goes a few feet, it is fairly easy.

Not if you use them properly. Balloons give traction and are only useful on the rear or powered wheels. Adding balloons or rubber bands to the front would increase friction and slow the car.

A speedy mousetrap car will have smaller wheels (faster acceleration), a shorter lever arm (increased torque, but smaller travel distance), a larger axle (increased acceleration) and will generally be smaller to decrease air resistance. A mousetrap car built for distance will have larger wheels (travels a longer distance per turn), a longer lever arm (increase the distance the car is able to travel), a smaller axle (delivers more torque to the drive wheels) and may be larger, due to the larger size of the wheels.

Use a longer pole/stick attached to the mousetrap's hammer. A longer stick allows more string to be used, and makes it go slower, not faster.

Having bigger back wheels and smaller front wheels is like going downhill, so it makes it go faster.

Yes. The article states, "If you are using a wood frame, sand it and paint it. This will make it more aerodynamic."

Yes, it will. if you follow all of these steps correctly, it should go much more than just one meter!

Three is better for everything in this case, reducing weight and rolling resistance. The only downside is that it makes design harder, since you need to extend the chassis either forward or under the trap to mount it.

Attach an axle hook to the drive axle. (This can be in the form of a zip tie or a piece of metal.) First, wind the string so that the wheels are spinning forward. (This is the string that will propel the vehicle backwards.) After winding the amount needed to travel backwards, loop the string around the axle hook and wind it in the opposite direction so that the wheels are spinning backwards. This is also the string that will power the vehicle forwards.

While yes, big wheels are simply best as smaller wheels do equal smaller distance in the same amount of time or per unit for work. A larger axle increases acceleration, but requires more string per revolution. Smaller axle = Less string per turn which increases distance. Larger axle = More string per turn which decreases distance but increases acceleration. It's the same concept as the placement of door handles. Place the door handle on the outer end(as is normally done), and you have push the handle a further distance but it's easy. Place the door handle in the middle and you decreased the distance the door has to be pushed but increased the resistance.

Yes and no. Pencil graphite is actually graphite and clay mixed together, which means it won't be as effective as lubricating graphite.

If you build it correctly, it should go roughly that distance. Just make sure that it is built with minimal weight and the right amount of friction.

You would put it in the same place as any other mousetrap vehicle: the center.

It is optional. The lubricant is only needed if you need to reduce friction on and around the axle.

Thinner wheels will give you more speed and a longer running time.

If you want it to be fast, a smaller size is recommended. If you are aiming for distance, chose a larger chassis.

You apply it as a lubricant between the axle and the tires, which is the greatest point of friction.

Speed. If you are going for distance, do everything the same but use a longer level. This will make it take longer to speed up, but it will go farther.

You should use a regular Victor brand mousetrap and then have a soft or lightweight type of wood to keep it from weighing to much and keeping the axles from bending. Then use even the simplest things such as Tonka truck car wheels. and then use a thick string or rubber band to wrap around the axle. you also need something for the axles, axle holders, and lever arm. Finally you need to have other materials on hand to experiment with to find different lengths or speeds needed for your project.

Yes, you can. In fact, I'd recommend it! The size of the CDs is perfect for this sort of project.

A small amount of graphite powder can be applied to any two surfaces that rub against one another to decrease the friction. Important: Never use graphite powder with ball bearings, ball bearings are already designed to reduce friction and the graphite powder will damage the bearing.

Go for speed. If you use this design for distance, then it won't go very far. The way this design is set up means you will only travel faster and not further. It will be inefficient.