Creative Engineering Design: Mouse Trap Car Design Challenge
Creativity drives students’ design of the Mouse Trap Car Design Challenge.Copyright 2022 Jacob Quattrini
Students design, build, and test mousetrap cars as they apply the Engineering Design Process (EDP) in this individual engineering design challenge. After researching design ideas, students build and test their mousetrap car prototypes (first model). Students then iterate (modify) their design and make any necessary modifications. While students work individually to make their mousetrap cars, they should collaborate with their peers to share information and make suggestions on how to improve and/or fix each other’s initial constructions. Students test their cars in a friendly class Mousetrap Car Competition to determine which car design travels the farthest distance (Note: students can also test which car travels a set distance the fastest).
Automotive engineering is a branch of engineering concerned with all aspects of automobile development. Automotive engineers design and build vehicles to meet desired specifications and cost constraints. Specifications may include lightweight, high engine power rating, large acceleration and top speed, high fuel efficiency, exceptional safety characteristics, and low cost – goals that may not ALL be achievable at the same time. Careful design trade-offs must usually be made. As part of the engineering design process, safety tests are often performed, such as tests in which vehicle prototypes collide with a target in a controlled fashion. Acceleration sensors aboard the vehicle measure the magnitude of impact forces. A safe vehicle effectively dampens the force of impact, as evidenced by low accelerometer readings, so passengers in real accidents are not subjected to excessive and dangerous forces.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Understand and apply the Engineering Design Process (EDP).
- Describe how the EDP is used at each step of the mousetrap car design challenge.
- Explain how their mousetrap car functions.
- Improve on the mousetrap car design by iterating the EDP.