Team Thirty-Six

Recitation Section C, Team Number 37

Team Members:
Gopal Patel
Ruben Quintero
Jeremy Weagley

Description:

Mouse Traps

Rubber Bands

The goal of the project was to create a minature car that goes forward straight 20 feet, stops, and then comes back 20 feet. The only sources of energy for the car are two mousetraps and six rubber bands. Our car uses a single rubber band wound around an axle to propel is forward the entire 20 feet. As the rubber band snaps back to rest position, it hits a trigger hinge which pulls a string connected to the mousetraps on the top of the car. The string relaxes the hold on the mousetraps which then causes the traps to unwind string wrapped around the other axle through a large lever arm. This provides the backwards motion.

Best Time: 12.121 seconds (forward + backward total)

Reports:
Prototype 1
Prototype 2
Final - includes interesting and original features, performance, and hardest part of the project

Log Book

Pictures: (Click thumbnails for larger versions)

		Team members pose with the car.
		Underside of the car shows forward propulsion method and trigger mechanism for backwards motion.
		Closeup of trigger hinge and backward drive pulley.

Pictures from around the world: (Click thumbnails for larger versions)

		The Thirty Sixes' car racing nationally.
		Visiting the Great Pyramids in Egypt, an inspiration for our design.
		Taking a vacation in Paris.
		Partying with friends after a successful competition.
		Traversing Mars with Spirit and Opportunity.
		Participating in a millenium celebration at the Eiffel Tower.
		ISO-9000 certified for high altitude propulsion.
		It floats too!