Design Process

Trap Motion Motors

8-10 Days

General Summary Of Unit:

Students will develop an understanding for the holistic design process, they will develop a solution to solve a real life problem. Students will sketch ideas, research various mousetrap ideas and develop an understanding of basic engineering principles such as Energy, Forces, Motion.

Skills students need or will develop:

An understanding of simple machines
Continue to improve on the concept of Iteration of the design process when solving problems or building things.

Dave from Middletown had a school competition and invited parents, here is his letter. Great Innovative MARKETING Idea

Greeting Parents,

I am writing to inform you that your child's mousetrap car design will be competing in the MiMS Mousetrap Car Competition Finals! Only the top cars from each class period qualified for this event - so you should be very proud of your young engineer!

We will be hosting the MiMS Mousetrap Car Competition Finals down in the cafeteria during Advisory (2:30-3:00 pm) on Monday 11/6/23. You are more than welcome to attend!

I will have a prize for the 1st place distance car and 1st place speed car next week after the event. But all the students on this list should be very proud regardless of how things go on Monday.

If you do choose to attend, please be sure to check into the front office upon arrival. Please understand that you might be asked to take a minute to complete the very brief Parent Volunteer training before your visit. This can be done ahead of time by going to https://fcps-volunteers.ezcommunicator.net/edu/fcps-volunteers/login_form.aspx?app=0

Thank you for supporting the CTE program here at MiMS.

Have a wonderful weekend!

David Dulberger

Technology Education Teacher

FCPS Vanguard Teacher

Unit 2 Mousetrap Cars

Goals For A Final Project

Each Student will create as mousetrap car for SPEED (15 Foot Race) OR DISTANCE, using one standard 5 x 10 cm mousetrap, the exact same mousetrap that is supplied to the entire class. The trap must remain intact; the spring cannot be modiﬁed or moved from the wood base of the mouse trap. Screws and nails, zip ties for example - can be used to attach the mousetrap to the car chassis, but wood cannot be cut or removed from the base. No launching ramps are allowed; all parts of the vehicle must move forward as a whole. The only energy source allowed at the start of the race is that which is stored in the mousetrap spring. You may not hold the vehicle during release or push the vehicle. If a student build a successful (basic) mousetrap car, he/she may construct one using multiple traps or modifying them to increase speed or distance.

Student Resources

Teacher Resources

Example Mouse Trap Car Directions
- Design Tips in Constructing the car above (note the body of mine is not like the balsa wood that comes with the kit, students may be creative)
- Mouse Trap Vehicles in Action - Recommended not to show students, let them do their own research, this is for the teacher.
Design Variables Lab
- Designed to show how changing variables in their car will impact performance and understanding Why?

Material:

Build a Mousetrap Car Bulk Kit

$3.25 Per Kit (possible use of Lab Fees)

OR - Individually purchased (More custom for the students) - Recommend to order at least one kit above for the directions (Below adds up to about $2.80/kit)

100 Mouse Traps - $30.99
200 CDs - $31.49
1/16 Basswood sheets (probably get 3 cards from one sheet - Order 4 Sets - $84
Wheel Spacers for CD for a 3/16" Axle - (5 packs) - $40
Small Zip Ties - $7.00
3/16 Dowel Rods for Back Axle with (5 Packs) - $36
Small Eye Hooks
Pitsco Steel Axles (1 Pack) - $13
Pitsco - LX Wheels (2 Packs) $30

Essential Curriculum:

• Demonstrate the ability to solve problems with technology using systems approach, higher order thinking skills, individual and collaborative ingenuity and a variety of resources including information, tools and materials.

Indicators:

Develop visual aids to represent technology systems, devices and processes
Produce technical sketches and a plan and communicate solutions to a technological problem
Apply a system approach to solve a problem
Collect information through a variety of means, including telecommunications
Identify and utilize a variety of materials and resources in the design and construction of a product.

Abstract or goal of lesson:

Students will design and produce a Mouse Trap Vehicle. They will research, write up a 150 word report, create thumbnail sketches, and then a final design. Students will use problem-solving techniques to develop a car for speed or distance.

Key/Focusing questions:

How to build a car for speed or distance.
How will the weight and the size of your wheels (gears) affect your car.
What resources can you use to give you ideas on how to design your car
- The review different types cars
- Different types of Cars

Generic Cars From Kelvin

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