Year 7

Ext Maths & Science

This term, twenty-two of our top Year 7 Maths and Science students have been working on a STEM project. The Mouse-Trap cars project has seen students designing and constructing a car that runs on the transference of the spring-loaded mouse-trap’s potential energy to kinetic energy. 

This class has been running once a week since the start of Term Four. During this time students were able to test two prototype vehicles and then record data on distances travelled. They then used their design skills to create a car with one modification to the prototype (change of wheel size or number, change of lever arm length etc) and they have collaborated and worked in pairs or trios to construct their car.

Once completed the cars were raced on the Central Courtyard. Students wound up the string, released the mouse trap and as the lever arm snapped back, the potential energy from the tightened spring was transferred to kinetic energy, pulling the string, which in turn rotated the rear axle and the cars were propelled forward. Students were trying to design a car that allowed for the longest distance to be travelled and that part of the project was won by Charli, Stella and Pip with a distance of 16.5m followed closely by Patrick, Ethan H and Ethan R with 16.4m. We decided the two teams needed a race and this time the greatest distance was travelled by the boys’ car. Nicola and Kylie designed the most colourful and creative car.

All students had a great time working together and increased their understanding of Maths and Science concepts such as Energy Transference, Data Collection and Measurement.

This activity has also provided all students involved with an opportunity to demonstrate a range of skills such as team work, problem solving skills, designing, construction and time management……and it was a lot of fun. 

Congratulations and well done to all of the participants.

Mrs Gaiter and Mrs Murphy | Teachers