What is the potential energy and kinetic energy when you release the ball?

What is the potential energy and kinetic energy when you release the ball?

When you release the ball, it begins to fall down the track acquiring a speed, v. The ball’s potential energy (PE) is being converted into an equal amount of kinetic energy (KE)! At the bottom of the loop, all of the ball’s energy is now kinetic energy.

At which phase does the ride decrease its potential energy and increase its kinetic energy How did you say so?

stopping

What happens to kinetic energy when an object speeds up?

This equation reveals that the kinetic energy of an object is directly proportional to the square of its speed. That means that for a twofold increase in speed, the kinetic energy will increase by a factor of four. And for a fourfold increase in speed, the kinetic energy will increase by a factor of sixteen.

How is energy conserved during a mousetrap car run?

Energy conservation proved a useful lens as we discovered with students how the initial potential energy stored in the mousetrap spring is converted into the translational kinetic energy of the car, the rotational kinetic energy of the wheels, and the eventually dominant heat energy lost due to axle friction.

What happens if the mousetrap is mounted too far from the drive axle?

What happens if the mousetrap is mounted too far from the drive axle? You will lose pulling force or energy to friction. The energy goes too quickly and you lose pulling force.

How long should the string be on a mousetrap car?

Calculating minimum distance The length of the string is about 25″. Therefore the string can be wrapped around the dowel 25/0.785 = About 31.8 times.

What is the effect of using large or small wheels on a mousetrap car?

Use wheels with a large diameter. The axle on a large wheel will rotate more slowly than an axle with a small wheel if the vehicle is to travel at the same speed. The faster the axle rotates in the bearing, the more friction it will have. If the wheels are not pointing in the same direction, the car will tend to turn.

What makes a mousetrap car go faster?

Making The Vehicle Faster

• Thicken the axle: Wrapping some tape radially around the axle or adding a spool. It may be surprising as to how much faster this makes the vehicle.
• Use smaller wheels. They will require less force to complete a rotation.
• Make the vehicle lighter.

Why is my mousetrap car not going straight?

If your mousetrap car does not travel straight energy is also being wasted to over come the force of friction turning the vehicle’s wheels. If a mousetrap vehicle is not traveling straight then there is one reason and one reason only: the front and rear axles are not parallel to one another!

What can you do to decrease the forces acting on the mousetrap car?

Try to have a minimum gap of 1/8 inch between the frame and any spacers (or wheels) in order to decrease any rubbing friction. Use thrust washers and graphite powder between spacers (or wheels) and the frame to help reduce the rubbing friction.

How do you stop a mousetrap car?

Adding Traction to Wheel Adding traction to a wheel will give the wheel more grip and greater stopping potential. One way to increase the traction of a wheel on smooth surface is to add a rubber traction tread that has more grip than the original wheel alone.

What wheels should I use for a mousetrap car?

Use thin, light wheels.

1. Old CDs or DVDs work fairly well for this purpose — they’re large, thin, and extremely light.
2. If you have access to old vinyl, these also work extremely well, though they may be too heavy for the smallest mousetraps.

What is the fastest mousetrap car?

Speed-Trap Racer

When designing a trap car What are the 2 variables that truly determine performance?

In general, mousetrap competitions have two categories, speed and distance. If you want to optimize for speed, you’ll want to design a car that exerts as much force/rotation as possible on the wheels as fast as possible.

Is friction beneficial to a mousetrap car?

The mousetrap car experiences friction in two major areas, and the results of each are very different. The first is the friction between the wheels of the mousetrap car and the ground. This type of friction positively affects the motion of the vehicle, as it allows the wheels to grip the ground, moving forward.

How do all 3 of Newton’s laws of motion apply to mousetrap powered vehicles?

The mouse trap car relates to Newtons first law because the car does not move until the force of the mousetrap moves it and then it doesn’t stop until it hits something or until gravity finally stops it. Newtons third law affects the car because for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

What are the two types of friction that affect the performance of a mousetrap car?

A moving mousetrap car is affected by two type of friction: airfriction and bearing friction.

What forces act on a mousetrap car?

Friction is a force that acts against the motion of all moving objects. Energy is required to overcome friction and keep an object moving. Mousetrap cars start with a limited supply of energy. This energy is used to overcome friction and propel the vehicle.

How does the length of the lever arm affect a mousetrap car?

Making the length of the mouse trap’s lever arm longer will decrease the pulling force but increase the amount of string that can be pulling from the drive axle. Shortening the length of the lever arm increases the pulling force but decrease the amount of string that can be pulled from the drive axle.

What is an axle hook?

An important part of a mousetrap vehicles propulsion system is the axle hook. If the string does not properly release from the drive axle the string will rewind around the drive axle and cause the mousetrap car to come to an instant stop.

What can I use for an axle on a mousetrap car?

A mousetrap car can be made from cardboard or balsa wood with CD’s for wheels and axles of wood or brass tubing. Power to drive the wheels is provided by a mousetrap to which a wand and string is attached to the snap arm.

How do you put a lever arm on a mousetrap car?

Tie-Method step #1: Attach a lever arm to the side of the mouse trap’s snapper using several pieces of picture wire or three small zip-ties as pictured. step #2: Trim any left over wire/tip-zie and then place a small amount of super glue on the wire/zip-ties to secure them in place and to the snapper arm.

Where should I place the mousetrap for the best performance?

For optimal performance the mouse trap should be positioned on the chassis so that the tip of the lever arm falls directly above the drive axle when the mouse trap is in the fully wound position (as pictured bellow). If the mouse trap is not aligned properly with the drive axle energy will be wasted off the start.

How does a mousetrap work?

Snap traps are placed along pathways rodents travel, and an attractant such as food or nesting material can be used. When the spring mechanism is triggered, a metal bar snaps and kills the rodent. After encountering the trap, mice are immobilized by an adhesive surface.

Do bait stations attract more MICE?

Results. Modified bait stations did not attract significantly more mice. They also had other limitations as Buczkowski explains: “One issue was low durability and susceptibility to moisture. All three materials are relatively soft and susceptible to damage by moisture, both from air humidity and mouse urine.

Can a mousetrap break your finger?

A mouse trap might not break your finger, but it’ll hurt. Rat traps, though, which are about 4 times larger and stronger than mouse traps and usually have serrated edges, could break your finger. If they don’t break your finger, you could still have severe bruising or pinched nerves.