CMTN Physical Sciences students test their mousetrap-powered vehicles at the Terrace Campus in 2024.
Terrace, BC – Coast Mountain College's Physical Sciences Department is seeking submissions for a mousetrap-powered vehicle competition.
The competition will be held on Thursday, June 19 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Waap Sa'mn (House of Spruce) on the Terrace Campus. If you’d like an alternate time for testing, please contact Regan Sibbald (information below).
There will be prizes for first, second, and third places and refreshments provided for everyone!
- First place: $600
- Second place: $400
- Third place: $200
- Most creative design: CMTN hoodie
Note: Only one prize will be awarded per group.
Contest details:
Objective:
To build a vehicle that uses a mousetrap as the only source of power. The goal is to go as far as possible using only the energy from the mousetrap.
Rules:
- There is no size or mass limit.
- The vehicle must have three or more wheels.
- Mousetrap must be the basic Victor brand metal pedal made from wood and metal (no plastic). They can be found at Canadian Tire (item number #059-3608-0 for a pack of two) and elsewhere.
- The mousetrap must be attached to the car and not simply used as a launching device.
- No external sources of energy other than the mousetrap permitted.
- You may not add additional springs, elastics, or spring-loaded gears, etc. for power. Any extension arms must be rigid enough to not store potential energy.
- The mousetrap must be removeable/replaceable.
- Each group will be given a new mousetrap that must be used for the competition.
- You may not alter/modify the mousetrap spring.
Suggestions for success:
- Living in Terrace provides the opportunity to observe many different types of vehicles. Use your knowledge from these experiences to guide the design of your project.
- Use your experiences with leverage and energy to help guide you.
- Learn about the dynamics involved including torque, levers, momentum, energy, friction, force, speed, and acceleration.
- To be successful, your vehicle must go in a reasonably straight line.
Testing:
- The vehicles will be tested in the hallway of Coast Mountain College's Terrace Campus academic building on Thursday, June 19.
- The vehicle that travels the greatest distance (perpendicular distance from the starting line) will determine the winner. The distance will be measured in meters with a trundle wheel (Measuring Wheel).
- Contestants may perform up to five trials and the trial with the greatest distance will be the one that is entered for your group.
Questions and sign-up information:
250-635-6511 ext. 5318.