Q&A for How to Build a Mousetrap Car

It depends on the size of the string. To make it go farther, I would add a stick addition onto the trigger arm to make it longer. This also makes the string longer. Increasing the length of the chassis will also help with distance.

Go over the top of the axel. then loop around, making sure the string crosses over itself. Then slowly lift the arm of the trap and spin the wheels to continue wrapping it.

If your dowels are thick enough, cut sections of straws and hot glue them to the bottom of the chassis.

The string being wrapped around the axle which holds the wheel causes the acceleration. What makes it go is the spring mechanism (the string being wrapped around the axle).

A rat trap is more powerful than a mouse trap. This means you will have to have a strong base/frame for the trap to sit in, but it can still work.

It depends, but they might! As long as you have at least two wheels, you can adapt the design to work for however many wheels you want.

The best thing to do is ensure that your wheels have been aligned and tightened properly. Make sure nothing is weighing your car down on one side either.

Remove the mouse trap, place motor on card (with batteries), put a belt from the motor to the axle and turn it on.

See Adapt a Mousetrap Car for Speed .

Cheese is good, but peanut butter is better. The key is to place the trap properly. Place the trap at the bottom of a wall that has traffic from the mouse or mice you're trying to trap. The trap must be placed with the baited side towards the wall.

Use thin pieces you can cut to size.

Yes, if you make the dowels fit.

Just go to your nearest craft store and search for a thicker string.

Victor traps work the best. They're more expensive, but work so much better for this project.

Make sure that your mouse trap fits on top of your chassis, preferably with a little leftover space on all sides. Furthermore, make sure that the front and rear wheels don't touch each other when attached to the chassis. Do keep in mind that the smaller the chassis, the less it will weigh.

Yes, the longer string will allow the wheels to turn more. When more rotation is caused, the wheels will spin more and allow the car to cover more distance.

Try to plan everything first. Victor is an ideal brand for this project. To make the car go further, you can add a rod to the mousetrap metal wire. Then the motion is larger, allowing the trap to harness more energy. With a Victor mouse trap, a 10 by 6 board should do the trick.

Just loop the string around the axle, and then tie it like you would tie a shoelace, but smaller.

The string is tied around the cars rear axle.

There are no good alternatives because rat traps could release too early and break someone's finger.

Yes, but make sure you don't tape it. If you tape it, the car won't move forward. You have to tie the string.

Add bigger wheels in the back, thinner wheels in the front and anything else to reduce air friction and rolling friction.

Yes. Just cut it to the same size as you would the cardboard. The heavier weight could either slow down or speed up your car, depending on other design and environmental elements.

The thinner the wheels, the better. Thin wheels have less drag.

You'll need a compass and pencil (for drawing circles), duct tape, durable string, rubber bands, 4 eye hooks, heavy cardboard or foam core, a mousetrap, pliers, ruler, 2 thin dowels and a utility knife.

If the rod attached to the string is long, then your car will go slower, but farther. It's sort of like track: burst out the start, you have less energy at the finish.

yes, when you use large rear wheels. Large wheels have greater rotational inertia than small wheels.

If you use CDs as wheels, your car will travel a greater distance per rotation than a smaller wheel. It is also important to make sure your axles are straight to make sure the car goes straight for greater distance.

Any sort of fairly durable string/cord will work. Even old shoelaces will get the job done when you're in a pinch.