Mousetap Car wont move?

Question

Ive built the car, and everytime i place it on the ground it doesnt move, but when i lift it up, the axle and wheels start to spin, is it caused by the mousetrap?, or is it something else, thanx

Answer 1

Check underneath...there, you see it? It spells F-O-R-D. That explains it...

Answer 2

Although I cannot see the car and have never built one myself, what it sounds like is when the car is on the ground the spring in your mousetrap cannot create enough torque to rotate the wheels and accelerate the cart. What you can try doing is making your lever arm that is attached to the spring and hooked to the string a little shorter or using a larger diameter pulley that the string wraps around to increase the torque the trap puts on the axles. Or if your wheels are incredibly large you could try and make them smaller but you will sacrifice the distance the car will travel. Hope this helps in any way.

Answer 3

My first guess is that the other axle is not spinning freely. That could create enough friction the prevent the cat from moving. The nest thing I would check is if a moving part is hitting the ground. Beyond that, I'd have to see the car or have a better description of how it is built to make any suggestions.