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

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

What sort of string should I use in a mousetrap car?

Community Answer

You should use something that has good grip and little friction. For example, yarn isn't a good choice because it is prone to getting caught and has lots of friction. Strong fishing line or even dental floss would be better choices. Both are smooth and thin, but also strong enough to turn the wheels without snapping.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 124 Helpful 390
Question

If I need to make it go as far as possible shouldn't I reduce friction?

Community Answer

Yes, but some friction is nessecary to make the car go forward in stead of skidding in place.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 82 Helpful 273
Question

Would a car travel further with big or little wheels?

Community Answer

The car would travel further with bigger wheels and faster with smaller ones.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 133 Helpful 411
Question

Should my car have a fat body or a skinny body?

Griffin Brown

Community Answer

A skinny one, to reduce air friction. But not too skinny, or the mouse trap may break your car when it goes off.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 96 Helpful 261
Question

Should my car have a long or short body?

Community Answer

A long body is best because it gives some weight to your car and it will move further and faster.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 120 Helpful 308
Question

What should the length and height of the body be?

Community Answer

You want the body to be long and narrow. Don't have it be tall because of aerodynamics.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 87 Helpful 198
Question

Do I need to have a special wheel thickness?

Community Answer

It is based on what you think works best. Thin wheels increase longer distance, while others increase traction.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 117 Helpful 255
Question

Should I make my car heavier or lighter to make it go further?

Community Answer

It should be as light as possible without being too fragile. Disks work great as wheels, but are thin and could break if you have too much force. A wood frame works the same way: it's light, which is good, but it could break if it's too thin.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 27 Helpful 74
Question

Should I use three or four wheels? Also, I'm using a couple old CDs for the back wheels, would it matter if I used the same thing for the front wheel/wheels?

Community Answer

It's probably best to use 4 wheels. The CDs are a good choice for both sets of wheels.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 140 Helpful 255
Question

How do I make a mousetrap car go?

Community Answer

The arm should have a string attached to it, with the other end of the string wrapped around the back axle (which will spin the axle when the arm snaps forward).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 83 Helpful 159
Question

Does painting the wheels impact anything?

Community Answer

Yes, it can slow down the wheels when they are driving.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 12
Question

When in a mousetrap car race, is distance better or is speed better?

Demonic Thief

Community Answer

Distance is better for a race. Speed is good, but if the others are faster than you, they will travel a short distance. Yours may be slower, but it will move farther than the others.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 18
Question

Should I have a thick or thin lever?

Community Answer

If you want lower air resistance, go with thin (although the air resistance won't be affected too much unless the lever is massive).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 12 Helpful 28
Question

What are the best things to do to make my car go further?

Community Answer

If you want for your car to go further, you should use larger wheels.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 11
Question

What are all the measurements for the car?

Demonic Thief

Community Answer

The measurements can be what you want them to be. Just be sure to only make the lever arm so long that it touches the axle, to get the car moving.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 15
Question

How does a mousetrap car work?

Community Answer

When the mousetrap is set off (assuming you built it and set the mousetrap up) the string attached to the dangerous part of the trap will fly forward, spinning the rear axle which leads to the car to start moving.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 106 Helpful 138
Question

How do I add balloons for increased traction?

Community Answer

Cut some part of the balloon to make a ring and then stretch it around the outside of the CD.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 32 Helpful 48
Question

How long do you make the fishing line?

Community Answer

About 2 inches longer than the distance from the top of your lever to the axle. If for speed do 2, if for distance do 3.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 33 Helpful 51
Question

How do I make the axles spin around?

Community Answer

Add a lever to the mouse trap, then add string to the lever, then tie it on the axle.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 11
Question

How can I adapt the wheels to keep spinning when the trap is out?

Community Answer

Your best bet is to get a longer string.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 72 Helpful 94
Question

Does the chassis need to be heavy?

Community Answer

It depends on your preference. When the chassis is heavy, it will decrease the speed of the car, and a light chassis will increase the speed.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 9 Helpful 16
Question

How do I make a car that can keep running even after the lever arms string is out?

Community Answer

If you can make the car accelerate fast and stay a constant speed with a light frame, your car will continue to roll.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 18 Helpful 26
Question

How do I make it go a certain distance, say 10 feet?

Community Answer

Gradually remove string from the axle until you reliably get the distance you'd like.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 27 Helpful 30
Question

How do I make the CD wheels in the front smaller?

Community Answer

Try to find mini-discs -- these are smaller and cheaper than compact discs. They might be hard to find though.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 38 Helpful 38
Question

How do I get the car to go in a straight line?

Community Answer

You will need to make sure that the wheels are straight and as perfectly aligned as possible.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 9
Question

Do I have to buy a special mouse trap that has an arm?

Community Answer

You do not need to buy a special mouse trap. You can simply use a wooden rod to attach to part of the spring with zip ties and a hot glue gun.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 9
Question

What size does the wood need to be?

Community Answer

The wood should be fairly thin.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 10
Question

Is hot glue good to use when building the frame of the car?

FOPG

Community Answer

Yes but not too much with the axel, because it needs to stay in place and move at the same time.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6
Question

How long should the string be for the longest distance?

Community Answer

Just long enough to touch the front axle if string is at the back. This will maximize power and the pull. Also add a rubber piece to the axle to slow down slippage

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 5
Question

For the CD's, are there small and big ones? Or are they all the same size?

Community Answer

The are all the same size.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 7 Helpful 5