On your blog, comment on how angular momentum impacts the design of your mousetrap car. WHERE in your design does angular momentum exist, and do you want to maximize or minimize the angular momentum in these locations? Finally, distinguish between the concepts of rotational inertia and angular momentum.
Angular momentum exists in the axles and therefore the wheels of the mousetrap car. It is important to consider the angular momentum in the car’s design because I want to maximize the angular momentum, so that the car continues to roll after the mousetrap has snapped. As such, it is important to think about how I will attach the string so that it doesn’t interfere with the rotational inertia (the tendency that the car will have to keep rolling after the torque is applied).
Rotational inertia is an object’s resistance to any chance in its state of rotation. Angular momentum is the product of an object’s rotational inertia and rotational velocity about an axis.
