5. Discussion and Conclusion

5.1 Key findings

A short lever arm allows the car to travel faster while a longer lever arm allows the car to travel further.

A too light body that is flimsy may not be able to withstand the force of the mousetrap, thus not allowing the car to travel a fair distance.

5.2 Comparisons with other designs based on research

Specific design adheres to specific need: speed or distance.

Speed cars have small sized arm lever that are hardly longer than the body. The built mousetrap has an arm lever which is not too long but longer than the body to allow it to fulfill both speed and distance to allow it to travel a longer distance with adequate speed.

The wheel size plays an important role since the circumference = distance in one rotation and unlike many mousetrap car designs with very large wheels  this mousetrap car has medium sized wheels. This is more due to availability reasons as finding appropriate and large wheels is a difficult task. Also, this would require a more sophisticated and strong axle to be able to withstand the exerted force of the wheels.

The axle holders are straw, an easily available piece of item that is both economically friendly and useful. In many designs on the internet, the axle holders are eye hooks or the frame itself. However, in this case, the frame is not thick enough to carry out this method thus, external corrugated plastic board has been used, again due to availability reasons.

In terms of design, the built mousetrap car is more for distance compared to speed due to the distance requirement of 8m.

5.3 Evaluation of engineering goals

5.4 Areas for improvement

Using lighter material other than plywood would have reduced the mass of the car and increased acceleration, helping the car cover a longer distance. Though the material of the body was previously modified from styrofoam to plywood due to the car’s low mass, a material with mass in between the tested materials would be a better solution.

The arrangement of the axle holders need to be straighter. The car is not travelling in a straight line.

Use sturdier and stronger material for the axle instead of wooden stick, as they break easily so, the car needed to be repaired more than 3 times as the sticks broke easily.

5.5 Practical Applications

The mousetrap car system can be adapted and used in real life cars as placement of engine affects the car’s handling and performance.

Race cars can have the elastic spring system to propel them forward with high force by adapting the mousetrap spring system.

5.6 Areas for further study

A area to look into would be how the spring can be adapted for real life usage for race cars to give them instant boost. This falls under mechanical engineering.

5.7 Bibliography