You're going to need to attach your mousetrap to a chassis (or body), which will form the frame of your car, wheels, and an engine to power the contraption. These kinds of miniature cars are often used for physics experiment when learning about mechanical advantage, gravity, and gear ratios. For the purposes of this example, heavy cardboard will be used as the chassis, but you also might use:  Foam core. The body of an old toy car. A piece of light, durable wood, like balsa wood. You can modify the design of your car to achieve certain goals. For example, if your physics class is having a distance race competition, you'll want to:  Lighten your car as much as possible. If using a solid chassis, this might include drilling holes in its frame and wheels. Use wheels that are both thin and stiff. Decrease air resistance by making the front of your car small and sleek. If your car will be traveling up a ramp or across hilly terrain, smaller wheels will be able to manage the incline better due to inertia. Flat surfaces, like table and floors, can be best traversed with larger wheels. As previously mentioned, there are many different materials you might use to make your mousetrap car. Some additional options are listed in the "Tips" below. However, to make the mousetrap in this example, you will need:  Compass (for drawing circles) Duct tape Durable string Elastic bands/rubber bands Eye hooks (4) Heavy cardboard or foam core Mousetrap Pliers Ruler Thin dowels (2) Utility knife

Summary: Visualize your mousetrap car. Use physics to your advantage for best results. Take into account the surface your car will run on. Gather your mousetrap car making materials.


Property trading, quite simply, is purchasing a property with the expectation that you can sell it a short time later for a higher price. This type of investing is commonly known as "flipping" properties. In this type of investing, the "flipper" is exposed to a tremendous amount of risk. This is because they actually own these properties and, if they fail to sell, will be stuck with the taxes and rent costs associated with keeping the properties. Be sure that you understand these risks before jumping into property trading.  There are two types of property trading: one involves upgrading or refurbishing the properties to resell them and the other simply involves price speculation (hoping that the price will increase) without any changes being made to the property.  Be sure to seek the advice of a Realtor, an attorney and an accountant before investing in property in the hopes of flipping it for a return on your investment. This type of property trading involves buying properties that are then improved to add value before selling them. These upgrades can be as simple as making small repairs or be full-scale renovations. Because of the work involved, this type of investing is usually more of a full-time job than a side investment.  When "flipping" a property, choose a house, apartment complex, duplex or commercial building with outdated features and needed upgrades. Negotiate a reasonably low price with the seller for an "as-is" property, and install the upgrades needed to increase the property's value. While you can hire a contractor for the work you need done, do-it-yourself repairs will result in a higher profit margin. You may want to attempt to sell the home yourself before enlisting the help of a real estate agent, as agent fees could significantly eat into your return. However, enlisting the help of a Realtor could significantly improve your chances of success. A downside to this method is that, barring a situation where you have other contractors working for you, it limits you to developing only one property at a time. This functions exactly the same way as flipping a property after refurbishing it, except that you'll have to rely on the market to increase its value for you. You'll have to look for brief windows of time where the seller of a property has priced it below the market rate for a certain area or look for areas where you think prices will rapidly increase. This requires foresight and risk-tolerance, even more so than refurbishing houses. If you have earned equity from investment properties, there is a legal method reinvesting that money into another property without paying taxes on it. This is known as a 1031 exchange and allows you to sell out of the first property and reinvest your gains in a second property without recognizing it as a taxable sale. And because there is no limit to the number of times you can do this, you could defer your taxes indefinitely this way (until you eventually cash out and are subject to capital gains tax).  This benefit is only applicable to investment properties (not your personal residence) and must be transferred between "like-kind" properties that are similar. This "like-kind" phrase is broad, but investigate the tax code before trying this yourself.  Keep in mind that there are specific timelines that you will need to abide by, so it is important to consult with an accountant who is familiar with them.

Summary: Know the risks of property trading. Earn money by "flipping" houses. "Flip" a property without renovating it. Take advantage of the tax benefits of property trading.


If secure information that only a small number of trusted individuals should know suddenly gets out, there might be some chance that the leak came about as a result of a phone tap, particularly if you have discussed the information over the phone at some point.  This is of particular significance if you are in a position that makes you a valuable person to spy on. For instance, if you have a high-level position in a powerful company with many competitors, you might be in danger of falling victim to the underground information industry.  On the other hand, your reasons for being tapped could also be as simple as going through a messy divorce. Your soon-to-be-ex-spouse might wiretap you if he or she wants to dig up information that could be useful during the divorce proceedings. If you want to test this out, you can do so by confiding a fake piece of information that seems important to someone you know you can trust not to tell. If that piece of information gets out, you know that someone else was listening in. If your home was recently robbed or broken into but nothing of value was taken, that alone should suggest to you that something is odd. Sometimes this can suggest that someone broke into your home for the sake of putting a wiretap on your phone.
Summary: Be concerned when your secrets get out. Stay alert if you have suffered a recent burglary.