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3/10 PotU: Mousetrap car testing.

Warm up:

Two parts: Calculate the speed of a car that traveled 2.7 m in 3.5 s. Calculate the average of 3.2m/s, 4.2m/s, and 3.7m/s.

You must have all the information written, show the equation you used, and your answer (must be correct) to get a stamp today. Have your Page 7 of the mouse trap car out as well.

Answers

  • Speed: 2.7 m ÷ 3.5 s = 0.77 m/s
  • Average: (3.2+4.2+3.7) ÷ 3 = 3.7 m/s

Today’s work

Your car should be ready to go. Before the end of the period, you need to:

  • Run your car for three trials.
    • Record the time and distance your car traveled.
    • Record notes describing the motion of your car.
  • Calculate each trial’s speed and averages.
  • Turn in your 1/4 sheet (one per group) describing what each member of your group did. If you had three members of your group, add the third person’s information on the back.
    • Remember, claiming credit for someone else’s work is plagiarism and has negative academic consequences.

Don’t forget Honors photo project, due tomorrow by midnight. TurnItIn instructions are on the web page for the project.

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3/9 PotU: Running the mousetrap cars!

Warm up

Copy the energy bar graph below, then name the components of your system and add bars representing the energy at the three different stages described.

image showing three energy bar charts plus a system box

Today’s work

Your car should be ready to go; no more than five minutes to get it ready. Before the end of the period, you need to:

  • Run your car for three trials.
    • Record the time and distance your car traveled.
    • Record notes describing the motion of your car.
  • Calculate each trial’s speed and averages.

If your group does not finish these steps, you must come in at lunch or after school today.

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2/7 PotU: Designing your mousetrap car

cover image for mousetrap car video

Warm up

Using physics, explain why the first hill on a roller coaster always the highest.

Designing your mousetrap car

Next week you will build, test, and the mousetrap car. As you build it, you will also determine the work done by the mousetrap spring by measuring the force and distance the mousetrap arm moves.

Watch the following videos, and take notes about ideas that techniques you may use for your car (we will start with materials on Monday).

Record your notes in today’s exit ticket area and the “Three things I learned this week” section of your bookends sheet.

Before you leave today, turn in your bookends sheet (make sure your name is on it!)

Homework

Start thinking about how you might customize your mousetrap car. Each group will receive the following items, extras are are up to you. If you want to use special materials, collect them over the weekend so you can use them on Monday.

  • One small mousetrap (larger rat traps are not allowed)
  • A light board about 8″ long by 3″ wide (you may replace this if you prefer a different design)
  • Dental floss or similar string
  • One set of plastic wheels with axle
  • One pair of CDs
  • Hot glue
  • Paint stirrer stick (two lengths available), to extend your mousetrap bar and tie your string to.

More videos you might want to view

Another video showing many student-built mousetrap cars.