What is a Rube Goldberg Machine?
My first words: WOW!!!! What a great way to start off our STEM years. The Rube Goldberg project and presentation was a huge success after a month of hard work. Our blood, sweat, and tears paid off when 300 people came to see our work. The time flew. So now, I want to tell you a little about our machine. Here is our power point that takes you step by step of our final product:
We started with a rough sketch of the machine shown below, and ended with a well planned blueprint, also shown below. As we started constructing, you can see from the pictures we faced some barriers. One challenge was toppling over the book. Step 1: we looked up the definition of toppling inside the textbook. Toppling = when object's center of gravity is over the base. We added the jenga block to create an unstable base that barely knocked over the book. This also applied to the stick to drop the penny in the piggy bank. Our base was added (a screw). Step 2: we added clay ears to the piggy bank so the penny would always go in, like barriers or absolute value bars.
Along the way we became very frustrated when it took over fifty takes to work once. One thing I learned about myself is I'm very impatient. With each little problem, I would stress out. Also, I can be very resourceful. I learned how to make the Rube Goldberg machine with toilet paper rolls and other inexpensive items. One item I could've improved on was my leadership. I felt I was too controlling instead of letting others share their ideas. Another area I could've improved on was my ability to use electric tools. I wasn't use to it, so I let others use them. I should have taken the moment to learn how to use them for the future.
Our pits in the project, or valleys, were when we weren't focused. Some days were pointless and not productive. We all were flustered and stressed about finishing in time. Our peaks, or mountains, were when our machine worked perfectly. We felt so proud that we created this. We were like the Breakfast Club who made a difference. Our team rocked, no doubt!
Along the way we became very frustrated when it took over fifty takes to work once. One thing I learned about myself is I'm very impatient. With each little problem, I would stress out. Also, I can be very resourceful. I learned how to make the Rube Goldberg machine with toilet paper rolls and other inexpensive items. One item I could've improved on was my leadership. I felt I was too controlling instead of letting others share their ideas. Another area I could've improved on was my ability to use electric tools. I wasn't use to it, so I let others use them. I should have taken the moment to learn how to use them for the future.
Our pits in the project, or valleys, were when we weren't focused. Some days were pointless and not productive. We all were flustered and stressed about finishing in time. Our peaks, or mountains, were when our machine worked perfectly. We felt so proud that we created this. We were like the Breakfast Club who made a difference. Our team rocked, no doubt!
Once our machine, was up and
running, we found the measurements and calculations, as shown below. Some
of the formulas were mechanical advantage, potential energy, kinetic
energy, force, and acceleration.
In mechanical advantage, we discovered how our simple machines made a task easier with input distance over output distance.
Potential energy was motion built up from a high or low position (inclined planes), while kinetic energy was the energy from motion.
Force was mass times acceleration, but to find acceleration, we divided the acceleration of gravity (9.8 m/sec. squared) and the mechanical advantage of the simple machine. You can see our calculations on the power point.
Our 5 simple machines were the pulley, the wheel and axle, the 1st class lever, the inclined plane, and the screw. All of these created work, or force times distance. For example, the effort on one side of the lever, moved a stick on the other end a certain distance. This is work. Torque is work in a circular motion. This is shown with the force the wheel and axle builds up. Other concepts included impulse (the effect on an object from motion) and momentum (force built from a mass' speed). Many of these concepts are shown in everyday life like a highway ramp is an inclined plane, or how snowboarders get speed from their height (potential energy). Below is a power point with extensive information on our simple machines and other mechanics in our Rube Goldberg machine:
In mechanical advantage, we discovered how our simple machines made a task easier with input distance over output distance.
Potential energy was motion built up from a high or low position (inclined planes), while kinetic energy was the energy from motion.
Force was mass times acceleration, but to find acceleration, we divided the acceleration of gravity (9.8 m/sec. squared) and the mechanical advantage of the simple machine. You can see our calculations on the power point.
Our 5 simple machines were the pulley, the wheel and axle, the 1st class lever, the inclined plane, and the screw. All of these created work, or force times distance. For example, the effort on one side of the lever, moved a stick on the other end a certain distance. This is work. Torque is work in a circular motion. This is shown with the force the wheel and axle builds up. Other concepts included impulse (the effect on an object from motion) and momentum (force built from a mass' speed). Many of these concepts are shown in everyday life like a highway ramp is an inclined plane, or how snowboarders get speed from their height (potential energy). Below is a power point with extensive information on our simple machines and other mechanics in our Rube Goldberg machine:
Our journey started a month ago. Honestly, I did not think our machine would work properly. Basically, Mr. Williams was crazy. As we started building, I saw it was really possible. We first decided to have 2 levels for maximum capacity. Each day we had a new goal like finishing the toilet paper roll screw or finishing the pulleys or finishing the lever. Yes, it took time. I thought we were done once the machine was built. Boy, was I wrong. We spent 3 days running it until it worked. Then we decorated our Walt Disney themed machine. We calculated the physics and made a power point presentation. Let me just say it is easier said than done. Our machine is unique because we used various items that each contributed. For example, we used tinker toys for the wheel and axle, recycled wood for supports and levers, and jenga blocks as toppling bases. On October 3rd, we were ready. Everything looked perfect and went wonderful. The best thing I got from this project was that I made three new friends. Below are some pictures of the work we put in to make our Rube Goldberg machine possible:
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Here is our machine's step by step process:
1. Wheel and axle hits the cup of marbles - kinetic to kinetic energy
Materials: wheelbarrow wheel and tinker toys
2. Marbles fall down screw
Materials: toilet paper rolls and marbles
3. Marbles hit jenga block to release ball - potential to kinetic energy.
Materials: mass ball, marbles, and wooden ramp
4. Ball hits the book to fall with lightweight.
Materials: book, mass ball, pulley, and weight
5. Heavy weight on other side drops on the lever - kinetic to potential energy.
Materials: pulley, weight, screw as fulcrum, wood as lever
6. Lever goes up to push marble down screw - potential energy.
Materials: straw, marble, and more toilet paper rolls.
7. Marble hits golf ball - kinetic to kinetic energy.
Materials: marble, golf ball, and toilet paper rolls
8. Golf ball hits yellow stick (topple).
Materials: golf ball, screw as toppling base, and yellow straw
9. Pulley - wall-up.
Materials: pulley, weight, and wooden plane that serves as a wall.
10. Penny goes into piggy bank.
Materials: wooden ramp, penny, and piggy bank
Here are all the steps put together:
1. Wheel and axle hits the cup of marbles - kinetic to kinetic energy
Materials: wheelbarrow wheel and tinker toys
2. Marbles fall down screw
Materials: toilet paper rolls and marbles
3. Marbles hit jenga block to release ball - potential to kinetic energy.
Materials: mass ball, marbles, and wooden ramp
4. Ball hits the book to fall with lightweight.
Materials: book, mass ball, pulley, and weight
5. Heavy weight on other side drops on the lever - kinetic to potential energy.
Materials: pulley, weight, screw as fulcrum, wood as lever
6. Lever goes up to push marble down screw - potential energy.
Materials: straw, marble, and more toilet paper rolls.
7. Marble hits golf ball - kinetic to kinetic energy.
Materials: marble, golf ball, and toilet paper rolls
8. Golf ball hits yellow stick (topple).
Materials: golf ball, screw as toppling base, and yellow straw
9. Pulley - wall-up.
Materials: pulley, weight, and wooden plane that serves as a wall.
10. Penny goes into piggy bank.
Materials: wooden ramp, penny, and piggy bank
Here are all the steps put together: