Final Spaghetti Bridge Post

My bridge

1. I found watching my bridge hold 3000g the most rewarding part of the process. This made all the work my partner and I put into the project pay off. I was very relieved when it held the minimum required weight because I didn't think it would hold it. I was very pleased with the results of the competition.
2. My bridge had very strong horizontal supports that ran the full length of the bridge. These supported all the weight. Our bridge was the lightest to compete, so it did very well for its weight.
3. I would incorporate triangles into the design to add strength. This design would also have two levels to spread the weight out.These changes would increase the strength of the bridge greatly.
4. Use bundles of spaghetti for supports. Make sure to incorporate triangles because they are the strongest shape.

The Spaghetti Bridge Challenge Project

Gluing spaghetti together

Gluing the supports together

Letting our supports dry

1. We are using two thick strands of spaghetti as supports for the roadway. These will hold most of the weight.  They are made up of many pieces of spaghetti glued together. The weight is distributed over the entire support. Our bridge will end up being about 36 cm long, 7 cm wide, and about 10 cm high.
2. We have glued all major supports together. We need to start assembling the pieces together today. As of now, it doesn't look like a bridge. Hopefully by the end of the day it will.

WebQuest answers

1. The difference between average speed and instantaneous speed is that average speed is a measure of the distance traveled in a given period of time. While instantaneous speed is the your speed at a particular instant. Speedometer represents instantaneous speed.
2. Constant speed is a speed at which the object covers the same distance every regular interval of time. The object will move 300m. (30*10)
3. Acceleration: the rate at which an object changes its velocity. Acceleration = change in velocity/time. (m/s/s or mi/hr/s or km/h/s). The car is going 28 m/s after 4 seconds.

Part 2

Positive velocity, 0 acceleration

Positive velocity, positive acceleration

1.  The slope and velocity are the same thing. If the slope increases, so will the velocity.
2. Pick two points on the line. Then determine the difference in y-coordinates (rise). Then determine the difference in x-coordinates (run). Divide the difference of y-coordinates by the x-coordinates (rise/run).
3. The slope of a velocity-time graph represents acceleration. If the acceleration is 0 , then the slope is a horizontal line. If the acceleration is positive, the slop is an upward sloping line. If the acceleration is negative, the slope is a downward sloping line.

Part 3

1. Free fall means an object is falling under the sole influence of gravity. The acceleration of an object at free fall is 9.8 m/s/s.
2. The object is accelerating at a constant speed. Acceleration= (11.57-3.77/3.1-.99)= 3.7m/s/s

Racer Recommendations

Things that went well: We won the longest distance challenge. Our group was very easy to get along with. We had no fights or arguments. Our mousetrap was very easy to assemble because we used old mechano and existing materials. If it broke down, it was very simple to fix. All in all, I enjoyed participating tin the mousetrap vehicle challenge.

Future Recommendations: It would of been better to have a larger class so there would of been more vehicles in the competition. It would of been nice to see a wide variety of vechicles instead of just 3. I suggest to future racers to use large wheels for the distance competition and smaller wheels for the drag race.

Post Race Reflection

Group picture (Stacey, Carrigan, Cassidy) Photo taken by Mr. Bertram

• I was impressed with our mousetrap vehicle's performance. I thought it did very well, since we won the longest distance traveled. I was a little disappointed in the drag race part of the competition, because we did not win.Our mousetrap traveled for an average distance of 9.8 m. During the longest distance traveled, it went over 11 m. 
• I would change the wheels for the drag race to smaller ones. The smaller wheels would mean faster rotation which would increase acceleration. 
• If I could design a new car, I would make it have only 2 large records for wheels. The mousetrap would be attached to a rotating axle. The rotating movement would increase the distance traveled. Having only 2 wheels reduces the amount of friction invovled.

Mousetrap Vehicle

Our mousetrap from the front.

•  our mousetrap works on a regular basis. The distance it travels varies each time. Its very safe to operate, and we changed it from our original plan to increase distance. it is very durable and is easy to fix. I think we can improve it to work even better.
• our mousetrap fades slightly to the right.
• our mousetrap usually travels around 10 meters. It has increased since the test day.
• we are planning to remove the front wheel and shorten the frame so it swings on the axle connected to the records.

Mouse Trap Cars

When designing a mouse trap, i feel that these design components would optimize its performance:

1.  A solid frame so it doesnt not bend/break when the trap is let go.
2. Friction on the wheels to increase grip on the ground.
3. A lightweight frame to increase velocity.
4. An aerodynamic frame so it flows easily through the air.
5. Easy moving axle so there is no friction.