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Mousetrap Cars—Super Value Guided-Inquiry Kit

By: Brad Christensen, Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Item #: AP7667 

Price: $265.00

In Stock.

In the Mousetrap Cars Guided-Inquiry Kit for physical science and physics, become a real world engineer, while investigating the various parts of a mousetrap car to determine each part's effect on the car's performance.

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Product Details

It’s off to the races! Students become real-world engineers as they investigate the various parts of a mousetrap car to determine each part’s effect on the car’s performance. With this exclusive kit, students plan and carry out investigations to test variables of wheel diameter, hub diameter, and length of the lever arm. Kit includes enough materials for six cars! Students analyze the quantitative data they collect in order to design a solution to a problem with particular specifications. Communication skills are developed as students present their designs based on the collected evidence. Cars are easy to assemble with no tools or glue required! This highly motivating activity truly integrates content and reasoning while engaging students in science and engineering practices. Super Value Kit is complete for six student groups. All materials are reusable.

Specifications

Materials Included in Kit: 
Mousetrap car body, assembled, 6
Mousetrap car bushings, pkg/12
Mousetrap car wheel, 3 cm, 6
Mousetrap car wheel, 8 cm, 12
Mousetrap car wheel, 12 cm, 12
Mousetrap with lever arm, 6
Pulley cord, 4 yd
Rubber stopper, one-hole, size 0, 12
Slotted machine screw, zinc-plated, 8-32, 1", 6
Washer, #8 flat, 7/16" o.d., 12
Wing nut, zinc plated, 8-32 thread, 6


Correlation to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Science & Engineering Practices

Asking questions and defining problems
Developing and using models
Constructing explanations and designing solutions

Disciplinary Core Ideas

MS-PS2.A: Forces and Motion
MS-ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems
MS-ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
MS-ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution
HS-ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems
HS-ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
HS-PS2.A: Forces and Motion

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns
Cause and effect
Structure and function

Performance Expectations

MS-PS2-4. Construct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and depend on the masses of interacting objects
MS-PS2-2. Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object
MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
HS-PS3-3. Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.
HS-ETS1-1. Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.