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

[jet55]

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!

 

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

6 feet is a good distance, do you think 1 mouse trap on either side will provide sufficient power?

 

[phinds]

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?

 

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

Into rotational energy? The mouse trap pretty much does that by itself. Did you mean translational kinetic energy?

 

[phinds]

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

 

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

Ahh my bad.

 

[phinds]

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.

 

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

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

 

[phinds]

Word yo

I have no idea what "word yo" means. Please speak English.

 

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

haha. It's how you concur in ebonics. So technically it is almost english =P

 

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

And that equals sign capital p is a computer generated person sticking his tongue out. (Just giving you a hard time phinds) =]

 

[phinds]

I don't mind the hard time, just do it in English.