Connor Holmes MouseTrap Car

The aim of this task was to design and create a mousetrap-powered that travels the furthest distance with our given materials. Our design was lightweight and efficient as it traveled 1.3 m on our test. This method will help you replicate our car and obtain roughly the same results.

• 2 pieces of cardboard 7cm wide and 18.5cm long
• 4 CD's
• 2 axels 15cm long (wooden dowel or brass tubing)
• 2 straws
• 1 mousetrap
• 1, 30 cm dowel
• string
• tape
• zip ties
• scissors
• 4 6mm beveled faucet washers
• hot glue and glue gun

Cut a rectangular notch on the short side of both of the pieces of cardboard as shown. Make sure the notches overlap.

Tape both pieces of cardboard together making sure the notches overlap as shown.

Cut three sections of straw to fit all short ends of the cardboard. After you have made sure they fit while not overlapping hot glue the straws into place. It should look similar to as shown.

Get your 30 cm dowel and secure it to the snap arm of the mousetrap with hot glue and zip ties.

Glue the mousetrap close to the end of the cardboard opposite ti the notch making sure the trap is closed and the dowel is pointing away from the notch.

Glue faucet washers into the center of the CDs. Use a large amount to ensure they are succure.

Choose your axel material. Place your 5mm axel into the straws and press the wheels on each end.

Attach zip ties to the center of the rear axel exposed by the notch in the cardboard, and cut it short, to about 6mm. this is the hook for the string. Use a dab of glue to hold it in place.

Tape a piece of string to the end of the 6mm dowel. On the other end tie a small loop. It should be long enough to reach the hook on the rear axel. The car should look like the image first shown above method.

The car traveled 130 cm which was a huge success. The car worked extremely well as it reached over a meter exceeding my expectations. We could improve it by increasing the dowel size therefore, increasing the speed of the car and launching it further