By Breanna Kixmiller

The physics students tested their mousetrap cars for distance and a grade last week. The 25 students tested their cars down the agriculture hallway on Monday, Nov.19 to see how far they would go.  The cars were then given a grade based on how far they went.  To receive an ‘A,’ a car has to travel over 20 meters.

Steve Baier, the physics teacher who assigned the project, said that the average distance this year was about 12 meters with “a handful over 20.”

Leading up to the project, students learned about different types of simple machines and friction.  Baier said that this project would help students by “giving a better understanding of simple machines and how to incorporate them into their design.”

When students built their cars, they could only use one mousetrap with no other energy source.  “The rest is up to their creativity and design,” said Baier.

Students had roughly two weeks to design, build, and fix their cars.  While students had many problems to overcome, some were more common than others.  Senior Sam Hayes, an eighth period student, and senior Stuart Hoegh, a sixth period student, both said that their main problem was keeping the wheels and axles straight to avoid hitting the wall.

The car’s problem “often centers around not working like they thought it would or not going straight,” said Baier.

Once students were done, they reflected on how the project turned out and what they could’ve done differently.  Hoegh said that he was “disappointed” and it didn’t go as well as he hoped.  After his three test runs, Hoegh kicked his car across the hall.

Hayes said that he was sad about the speed of his car, but that his car “looked good.”  He went along saying that it felt good to have a project work after his bridge and dome both collapsed.

Senior Scott Caslow, who isn’t taking physics but watched on testing day said, “I saw feats of engineering I never thought possible.”