Embedded Files
Introduction of our project
Introduction of our project
A Rube Goldberg machine is a chain reaction type machine intentionally designed to complete a simple task in an over complicated way. This project was inspired by the cartoons by Rube Goldberg. Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist who reached popularity in the 1910s for his cartoons that featured super complicated whimsical machines that ended with easy tasks.
To complete this project it took us five weeks of brainstorming,planning,building,calculating and teamwork. We worked with our table groups that our teacher arranged and each group was four students each.
Explore this project down below!!
How We Got There
How We Got There
Now that you have seen our finished project, I think you should see our steps to completion. This is the very first project we had as high schoolers in Stem so our teacher Mr.Williams taught us the engineering design cycle.
This is the cycle:
Identify the Problem Research the Problem Develop Possible Solutions Select Most Promising Solution Construct Prototype Test/Evaluate Communicate Redesign RepeatOnce we learned how to do that, we began brainstorming our theme and what our end result would be. Eventually after many discussions and multiple off topic conversations, my team and I agreed on Christmas. We chose Christmas because we all loved the feeling that fills the air around Christmas time. For our simple task we originally wanted to have a star being placed on a Christmas tree but after realizing how difficult and that we just didn't like that idea we decided on opening a present. then we worked on our simple machines and how to incorporate them without making them seem out of place. We began working on our blue prints.
Original blue print
Original blue print
we first designed this blue print knowing that it would be changed as the machine took place.
final blue print
final blue print
this was our final blue print and it includes all the steps from our machine. you can see the differences and similarities between the two blueprints.
We spent lots of time in the maker space. first we learned how to use the provided hardware and figured out the best ways to use what we had. We made many mistakes and had to change how we were going to do something multiple times but eventually we had a working final machine! all we had to do from there was our calculations and a presentation for Rube goldberg night that you saw along with the video.
Simple Machines
Simple Machines
Calculations
Calculations
We had to create calculations each of our ten steps
Mechanical advantage real. Machnical advantege real is how much easier (less Force) a machine makes a task. To calculate MA real you have to divide the work by the effort which means ratio of the input force to the output force. we calculated MAreal for steps 1, 6,and 9.
Force. Force is the push or pull on an object that causes change in motion. To calculate Force you need to multiply mass times acceleration. We calculated Force for steps 2,3, and 10
Velocity. Velocity is the rate of distance covered in a direction. To calculate velocity you divided the distance by the time it took to go that far. We calculated Velocity for step 4
Acceleration. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity (speeding or slowing down). to calculate Acceleration you need to divide the velocity by the time. we calculated acceleration in steps 5 and 8.
energy transfers. Energy transfers are when energy is relocated from one to another.
there is kinetic energy and potential energy. Kinetic energy is energy due to motion and potential energy is energy an object has due to its height or position in a gravitational field. we calculated the energy transfer between two marbles in step 7
work.Work is the amount of energy put into something. To calculate work you need to multiply the Force times the distance.
Construction log
Construction log
Day 1: We started measuring what we needed
Day 2: We attached our boards together
Day 3: Sketched where everything on the board was going to go
Day 4: Attached the first 2 ramps
Day 5: Started working on making the simple machines (lever, wedge, etc)
Day 6: Attached the screw
Day 7: Attached the last 2 ramps
Day 8: Started making decorations/painted
Day 9: Finished decorations and painting
Day 10: Tested our project and made any needed adjustments
Reflecting on this project
Reflecting on this project
Now that I look back on this project there are a few things that I would want to redo if I could go back and fix our machine. For instance I would find a better solution than tape as a stopper for a marble and maybe find a better and more precise way of having the axe hit the tree so that it is successful every time. I also learned that I need to work better at encouraging people because my team struggled with getting work done and if I had been more encouraging I think we would have been more productful. I wish that some of my teammates had worked harder and tried to accomplish more to help out. Overall though, I think this project was fun and I wonder what it might be like if I did it again in a couple years after gaining more experience.
Page updated
Report abuse