How does a mousetrap car work?

Question

I am building a mousetrap car for a school science experiment. Some others in my class have theres going over 20 metres, how can I improve my design?

Answer 1

Most mousetrap cars consume 4 mice per 100 meters.  If you can do better the mice would sure appreciate it!

Good luck!

Answer 2

A mousetrap is pretty much just a big spring, so you use the spring to store energy that is translated into motion of the wheels.  I've not ever made one but I'm sure its something like, set the mousetrap, attach something to the part that moves that will push against a fixed object, trigger the moustrap.  The spring can't move the fixed object so instead it moves the car on wheels.  20 meters seems like alot to me, must be some low friction wheels and BIG moustraps (rat-traps?)

You could probably attach the spring to something to drive the wheels directly but this seems difficult with the speed of the spring (snap!)