Various questions about mouse trap cars

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the design considerations for mouse trap cars, specifically focusing on the impact of wheel diameter on speed and acceleration. Participants explore the trade-offs involved in selecting wheel size to optimize performance in a competitive context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether larger wheels will always be faster if they have the same mass, considering the distance covered per axle cycle.
  • Another participant notes that larger wheels have a greater moment of inertia, which may hinder acceleration, but they also reduce rolling resistance.
  • It is suggested that while larger wheels can achieve higher speeds, they may require sufficient acceleration to reach those speeds quickly, indicating a trade-off between wheel size and torque.
  • A humorous suggestion is made about using a mouse to tow the vehicle, reflecting a light-hearted take on the competition.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of wheel diameter in maximizing friction force, suggesting that smaller diameters may lead to wheel spin and losses, while also highlighting the significance of the friction coefficient over mass.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of wheel size, particularly regarding acceleration and speed. There is no consensus on the optimal wheel diameter, and the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention trade-offs between wheel size, moment of inertia, acceleration, and friction, but do not provide specific mathematical models or detailed analyses to support their claims.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in engineering design, physics of motion, or competitive building of mouse trap cars may find this discussion relevant.

harrypotter99
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Hi,

For a mouse trap car that is traveling about 10ft in the least amount of time, is it advisable to use wheels with a large diameter?

Basically, I am asking that given two wheels with THE SAME MASS, will the larger wheel always be faster in the same system? I've been thinking and I cannot figure out whether or not a larger wheel will be slower... The larger wheel should give more distance per cycle of the axle... is that all there is to it?

Thanks a lot.
 
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Keep in mind a larger wheel will have a larger moment of inertia, making it "heavier" when accelerating. But, at the same time, a larger wheel will also have a lower rolling resistance.

I would keep the size of the wheels on the large side, but not huge (best way to go would be a large spoked wheel, for light weight and large diameter).
 
While a large wheel will give you higher speeds you will also need decent acceleration to get up to speed quickly. As you increase the diameter of your wheels your torque decreases and you may not have enough acceleration to reach max speed fast enough.

There always are trade offs and dealing with those trade offs to obtain the optimum results is what makes these contests interesting. Can you model wheel diameter versus acceleration and max speed to determine which wheel diameter will cover the distance in the least time?
 
Having both read and participated in several threads of this nature, I believe that I've finally come up with the perfect solution.
I would strike a plea-bargain with the mouse, under which it would tow the vehicle to the required distance in return for its life.
 
The wheel is your transmission. You must have the diameter as small as needed to take advantage of the maximum friction force from your wheel. Going smaller would result in wheel spin, hence losses. Since time is your objective, your entire car design should be to maximize the use of the maximum friction force. Within reasonable limit, the friction coefficient of your wheel is far more important than its mass.

Everything you need to know to maximize your design can be found on http://hpwizard.com/car-performance.html" .
 
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