This term, Year 9 science students have been channelling their inner engineers in an exciting hands-on project: designing, building, and testing mousetrap-powered cars.

Guided by Mrs. Davis, Dr. Harvey, and Mr. Dela Paz, students engaged in the Engineering Design Process to turn simple materials into impressive vehicles capable of traveling remarkable distances.

The Challenge

The goal was simple but ambitious: create a car powered solely by the energy stored in a mousetrap and make it travel as far as possible. Students worked in small teams, with each member taking on a leadership role emphasising the leadership aspect of the graduate profile, such as Team Leader, Design Leader, Build Leader, or Test Leader. This collaborative approach not only fostered teamwork but also gave every student the opportunity to shine in a specific area.

The Process

Over several weeks, students followed the steps of the Engineering Design Process:

Ask: Defining the challenge and identifying constraints such as material limits and time.

Research & Brainstorm: Exploring different designs by watching videos, researching online, and sketching initial concepts.

Plan: Developing a final design with detailed labelled sketches and a materials list.

Create: Building the cars using materials like mousetraps, straws, cardboard, and skewers, and iterating to overcome challenges.

Test & Improve: Conducting trial runs to measure performance, analysing results, and making modifications to improve distance travelled.

Highlights

The energy and creativity in the classroom were palpable. Some teams experimented with different wheel sizes and axle alignments, while others innovated with unique ways of attaching the mousetrap mechanism. The results were as varied as they were impressive, with some cars zipping across the room and others requiring a few tweaks to reach their full potential.

One standout moment was a car that travelled an impressive 8 meters, earning cheers from the entire class. Another team discovered how small adjustments, like reducing friction on the axles, could lead to dramatic improvements in distance.

What’s Next?

The mousetrap car challenge has sparked enthusiasm for STEM across Year 9, and many students are already asking about future design challenges. With such an engaged and innovative group of students, the future of science and engineering at Marlborough Boys’ College looks bright!

Congratulations to all the Year 9 scientists and a big thank you to Mrs. Davis, Dr. Harvey, and Mr. Dela Paz for making this such a memorable learning experience.