Engineering Challenge 4
One Machine, Two Machines,Old Machines, New Machines

Activity Overview

Rube Goldberg used his knowledge of engineering to create “out-of-the-box” designs, and inspired people to think differently about everyday experiences; people like Joseph Herscher, a man who loves to play and builds Rube Goldberg machines for a living! Or the band OK Go, who created this music video, which features a massive collaborative Rube Goldberg machine (you might be confused at first by the man who is covered in red paint, but watch till the end for the amazing finale!). It is so valuable to be able to view the world in new and unexpected ways, and these new perspectives often give us great delight, amusement, and joy. This activity is the culmination of our ongoing Engineering Challenge projects we’re giving the students the opportunity to explore familiar things from new perspectives. After studying simple machines in a multitude of ways, students will be challenged in this activity to think of ways to combine all of their creations into one BIG machine!

What You Need

• A collection of Maker Materials to work with

• Several simple machines made from our other Engineering Challenges - Marble Chute, Catapult, and Bridge Iterations

Steps

1. Consider all of the projects that you have created throughout the Engineering Challenge. Spend some time planning, collect additional materials, and select a location to set up your machines.

2. Connect all of your projects to create a “Rube Goldberg Machine”- a chain reaction that links all your machines together. Machines can be placed in any order, and you may want to add more projects from the Engineering Challenge Project Bank. Basic machines like ramps or levers may be used to attach one section to another.

Guiding Questions

• How have you designed your machine? How did you decide what order to put the projects together?

• How did each piece work together to create the whole machine?

• What additional elements or materials have you included?

• What challenges arise while thinking about putting your machines together?

• Did you have to go back and make any changes to your machines?

Extensions

• Try to use your projects to complete a task, for example: turn off a light switch or close a door.

• Check out this book about Rube Goldberg and his machines.