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Introduction

 * || This report discusses an engineering project designed to study the use of video analysis to measure position (x), velocity (v), and acceleration (a) of a Mouse Trap Racer (MTR). The team used common designs to maximize acceleration over a four (4) meter track. The project was conducted in two phases.(1) Construct and test a prototype MTR that used a standard minimum design, and (2)construct and test a student designed MTR that incorporated additional ideas developed during the prototype construction phase. The second MTR is referred to as the “as built” model in the project documentation. ||

Procedure
Using a video camera the MTR was photographed as it made the run on the course. The camera operated at the rate of 30 Frames Per Second (FPS). A calibration distance of one (1) meter was recorded with the video. When the video was loaded in the Tracker software, the software used the calibration distance to calculate each x position and the frame rate in FPS to calculate the average velocity between any two frames. In the calculations the sub I ( i ) indicates the value at any particular measured point and time.
 * || **Using Tracker Software**

v i = ∆x i / ∆t or (x2-x1)/(1/30)

By using the average velocity between each frame the acceleration is calculated.

a i = ∆v i / ∆t or (v2-v1)/(1/30)

For each x, v and a, Tracker plotted the position and created a table of values. || Materials List Construction notes Sketchup ||
 * || **Building the Prototype MTR**
 * Mousetrap
 * Pens
 * Balloons
 * CDs
 * Eyescrew
 * Washers
 * Take off pressure plate and hook from mousetrap
 * Glue Washers to CD's
 * Glue washer/CD mass to the axle (pens)
 * screw in eye-holes to mousetrap
 * insert axles into eyeholes
 * glue the remaining CD's to the axles
 * attach bale to mousetrap
 * tie string to bale and back axle
 * test
 * || **Building the Student Design MTR**

Materials List Construction notes Sketch-UP ||
 * Foam
 * Wood
 * Mousetrap
 * Balloons
 * 3 Pens
 * Detergent Cap
 * Blue Tape
 * Hot Glue
 * Eyescrew
 * String
 * Washers
 * 1) Remove pressure plate and hook from mousetrap; Save for trigger
 * 2) Drill 4 circles out of foam for wheels; Surround with balloons
 * 3) Glue mousetrap to wood
 * 4) Drill hole in extended bale for twine, glue down twine
 * 5) Glue extended bale to mousetrap
 * 6) Drill holes in wood for eyescrews; place axles through them
 * 7) Glue other end of twine to end of axle
 * 8) Glue foam wheels to end of axles

Results and Discussion
My average velocity was 1.5MPS ||
 * || [[image:Acceleration.png width="640" height="319" caption="The greatest acceleration was 234CPS"]]

Conclusion
It would be better to plan out the design a bit more, as well as use better materials for the project. As well as a camera that shoots at a better frame rate so tracker doesn't get confused. ||
 * || This experiment was a success, we managed to get both the prototype and final project working successfully.

Experimental Data

 * || [[file:TreyFul.trk]] ||