Rube Goldberg Machine

What is a Rube Goldberg Machine?

A Rube Goldberg Machine is a series of complicated steps that work together to complete a simple task.

Our task was to create a Rube Goldberg Machine with ten or more steps and five simple machines.  I was in a group with three other people. We had to come up with a theme to base the project on. We had ten days to build the machine and a few days to plan and make a presentation.

Final Product

Our machines theme was time. The final step was a weight turning off an alarm clock. To decorate our board we drew clocks, hourglasses, calendars, etc. I am happy with the way our machine turned out. I had to plan out our 10 steps, make our presentation, decorate, and attach pieces to our board. The final presentation is below.

Physics Content

Velocity (v)

Velocity is the rate of covered distance in a direction. It can be found by dividing distance by time ( v=Δd/Δt) and is measured in meters per second. (m/s)

Ex: We used velocity in our project anywhere the ball rolled.

Acceleration (a)

Acceleration is the rate at which something changes velocity. It is calculated by dividing velocity by time (a=Δv/Δt). It is measured in m/s.

Ex: Our ball accelerated down our ramp during step 6.

Force (F)

Force is the push or pull on an object that causes a change in motion. To find it, multiply mass and acceleration (F=ma). It is measured in newtons. (N)

Ex: In step 9, the ball exerted a force of 46.5N on the lever. 

Work (W)

Work is the amount of energy put into doing something. It is calculated by multiplying force by the change in direction (W=FΔd). It is measured in joules. ( J )

Ex: An example of work in our project is when the ball hit the bigger ball down the ramp.

Potential Energy (PE)

Potential energy is the energy an object has due to its position at a height or in a gravitational field. To find it, multiply mass times gravity on earth (9.8 m/s) times height (PE=mgh). It is measured in joules ( J ).

Ex: At the top of our ramp in step 3, the ball has a potential energy of 0.25 J.

Kinetic Energy (KE)

Kinetic energy is the amount of energy in an object that is currently in motion. It is calculated by multiplying one half of the mass times velocity squared (KE=1/2mv^2). It is measured in joules. 

Ex: Our ball had kinetic energy as it fell, rolled, or did anything in motion.

Mechanical Advantage (MA)

Mechanical Advantage is how much easier a tool makes a task. To find it, divide the force of the load by the force by the force of the effort (MA=Fload/Feffort). It is unitless.

Ex: In step 3, the mechanical advantage of our ramp is 1.5.

Simple Machines

My group used 5 simple machines. A wheel and axle, a pulley, wedge, inclined plane, and a lever.

Reflection

During this project I learned a lot lessons on how to work with a team to complete something. There are some things I did well and some things I need to work on. I think the thing I did well with during the project was coming up with ideas and communicated well with my teammates. Although the project went well overall, there are a few things I could work on.

 First, I could not get too frustrated if my teammates aren't communicating what they are doing and what needs to be done clearly. I could also stay focused on the project more. At the beginning of the project I wasn't sure how to start working on the project, so I didn't get too much done. However, at the end I was a lot more focused and got our slideshow done by myself. A goal I want to set for myself for the next project is to focus more on the project and try to understand everything my team is doing. Overall, this project went okay, but there are definitely goals I want to work on for the next one.