Create a car to pick up a ballon, travel a distance, and pop it

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jet55
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Homework Statement


We need to create a vehicle that will travel 6 feet, pick up a ballon, bring it back to the start, and then pop the balloon.
For power we need to use mousetraps. We cannot modify the balloon, only the car.



The Attempt at a Solution


We have thought of using a string to wind up the second mouse trap and than having it release to go back. We are unsure of what to do otherwise.
Thanks!
 
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Discussion

6 feet is a good distance, do you think 1 mouse trap on either side will provide sufficient power?
 
Depending on the weight of the car, I think two mousetraps should be plenty to get it 6ft and back. You just have to figure out a way to convert the energy in the spring into rotational energy. Another big problem is how do you get it to stop once it gets to the balloon?
 
Into rotational energy? The mouse trap pretty much does that by itself. Did you mean translational kinetic energy?
 
BiGyElLoWhAt said:
Into rotational energy? The mouse trap pretty much does that by itself. Did you mean translational kinetic energy?

Well, I meant rotation of the wheels
 
jet55 you really need to thrown out some idea of your own, otherwise it just looks like you are asking us to do it for you.
 
phinds said:
jet55 you really need to thrown out some idea of your own, otherwise it just looks like you are asking us to do it for you.

Word yo
 
haha. It's how you concur in ebonics. So technically it is almost english =P
 
And that equals sign capital p is a computer generated person sticking his tongue out. (Just giving you a hard time phinds) =]