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Eighth-grade students in integrated science classes at Springville Junior High School were assigned to build a mousetrap car using one regular mousetrap as a source of power. You’re probably wondering how a mousetrap car works. Mesa Bake, an eighth grade student at SJHS, said, “You need to use your notes and knowledge.”
The car works when one end of a string is tied to the arm on the mousetrap or a lever, and the other end is wound around an axle. By winding the string around the axle, the mousetrap spring is stretched back. As the mousetrap is released, it pulls the string off of the axle causing the wheels to turn and make the car move. Students needed to make their cars go at least ten feet, and were awarded extra credit points for every foot the car went farther than 10 feet.
The day after the assignment was given, Mrs. Carpenter showed her classes some examples of mousetrap cars from previous school years. According to Hannah Grosland, eighth grader at SJHS, the examples gave her ideas of what she was going to do.
The cars were tested on Wednesday, April 4th. Mrs. Carpenter said, “Mousetrap car competition day is probably my favorite day of the year. I love seeing the creativity of students in creating their car. I love to see the students’ excitement when they see their car work just like they planned.”