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Is this rule of fitting within 40x40 cm a new rule, because last year I competed with a mousetrap vehicle that was about 43 cm in length and never got penalized. The CD wheels make it extend out a little past 40cm, but that portion is not touching the ground for 40 cm, so will I be ok?

asingh4688 wrote:Is this rule of fitting within 40x40 cm a new rule, because last year I competed with a mousetrap vehicle that was about 43 cm in length and never got penalized. The CD wheels make it extend out a little past 40cm, but that portion is not touching the ground for 40 cm, so will I be ok?

Last year it was 50 x 50. Also, you can fit it in diagonally. However, the portion that is not touching the ground does indeed count as part of the wheel, so it must fit inside the 40 x 40 "box."

asingh4688 wrote:Is this rule of fitting within 40x40 cm a new rule, because last year I competed with a mousetrap vehicle that was about 43 cm in length and never got penalized. The CD wheels make it extend out a little past 40cm, but that portion is not touching the ground for 40 cm, so will I be ok?

Yes, the wheelbase rule has changed (I think it might have been 50x40 max dimensions before). Are you asking if you can use the same vehicle as last year? If so, that might not be in your best interest unless you know that it can be propelled for > 8m.

I just want to make sure:
1) the wheels can be CD's
2) the wooden dowel perpindicular to the ground can be anywhere on the vehicle since it's just used as the vehicles singular location

BadSciOly-er wrote:I just want to make sure:
1) the wheels can be CD's
2) the wooden dowel perpindicular to the ground can be anywhere on the vehicle since it's just used as the vehicles singular location

1. They can be, though they are better options.
2. It almost definitely has to be at the front of the vehicle, since the cup must be touching the dowel at the start, and since you want to drop the cup off, you can't have more things in front of it.

PM2017 wrote:

BadSciOly-er wrote:I just want to make sure:
1) the wheels can be CD's
2) the wooden dowel perpindicular to the ground can be anywhere on the vehicle since it's just used as the vehicles singular location

1. They can be, though they are better options.
2. It almost definitely has to be at the front of the vehicle, since the cup must be touching the dowel at the start, and since you want to drop the cup off, you can't have more things in front of it.

oh i didnt realize the dowel had to be touching the cup at the start. I see the rule now. thanks!

at our most recent invitational there were multiple teams who made a longer vehicle than 40 cm and they told the supervisors that they can put their vehicle in a diagonal in the imaginary 40cmx40cm square. Is this allowed?

DarthBuilder wrote:at our most recent invitational there were multiple teams who made a longer vehicle than 40 cm and they told the supervisors that they can put their vehicle in a diagonal in the imaginary 40cmx40cm square. Is this allowed?

Is there anything in the rules prohibiting this? If not, I dont really see a reason why it wouldnt be allowed.

is there a way to keep a pair of mousetraps on your car throughout the whole season? Currently i just glue the "U" part but i am not sure if it will do much.

DarthBuilder wrote:is there a way to keep a pair of mousetraps on your car throughout the whole season? Currently i just glue the "U" part but i am not sure if it will do much.

I'm not sure if I'm interpreting you correctly, but there's certainly no reason why you can't? Though, it'd advise you attach your traps with a non-permanent method, such as screws, so you can change them out when they lose power.