Rube Goldberg Machine
Theme: A sunset sail
Embedded Files
A Rube Goldberg Machine is a series of events that cause one final action. It is a collection of multiple, simple machines that are used to elaborately complete a quite simple action.
Our task: was to create a simple machine in a complicated way and to make it as creative as possible. For our theme, we chose to power a sailboat using air from a fan to power the boat. We had to include 5 simple machines 4 different energy transfers and 10 total steps or more.
Simple machines:
incline plane:
The tilted pieces of wood are the incline planes. The metal ball rolls down them.
Wheel and axle:
The wheel and axle are shown in the fan the blades spin around a point in the middle.
Lever and pulley:
The lever and pulley is shown where one heavy ball falls into one side and the other ball rolls out the other.
Wedge:
The wedge is at the start. The metal ball is sitting held up by the wedge and someone moves the wedge to let the ball go.
Screws:
Screws are also present in our fan the screws hold the fan up.
Original blueprint
Original blueprint
Construction log:
Construction log:
Day 1: On the first day we painted the background for the project but we were limited from doing anything else because the paint was still wet
Day 2: We started getting our wood and making calculations. We tried to make a pulley system but realized that It was not going to work
Day 3: We went back to the drawing board and we decided to start with an inclined plane using a wedge to release the ball. Then we made 2 more ramps.
Day 4: We continued to have our ideas on the ramps, then we added a metal tube with a slight incline to it.
Day 5: We thought about what we needed on our simple machines, we needed a pulley.
Day 6: We are building the pulley system and making it right. Some of us were trying to figure out what else we needed.
Day 7: We made one more ramp for the ball to drop on. It had a slight incline on it. Meanwhile, the pulley system is still being constructed.
Day 8: The pulley system has been finished and it has a knot on it so we can adjust it.
Day 9: We made another ramp that connects to the other.
IMG_7976.mov
Final blueprint We kept our blueprints pretty much the same with a few minor changes at the begining with the pulley.
Final blueprint We kept our blueprints pretty much the same with a few minor changes at the begining with the pulley.
Construction log:
Construction log:
Day 10: The ball will go into another plastic tube that curves down onto another ramp with a slight incline.
Day 11: We had some trouble figuring out what were going to do next. First, we thought of another pulley system to turn on the fan. But instead, we made a piece of wood stand straight up with another ball in it. The ball goes into another tube.
Day 12: We made the ball goes into another tube that will hit the button to the fan. It did not work so we did not know what to do.
Day 13: We made a funnel so the ball could hit the button with enough force to turn the fan on.
Day 14: We tried to fill up the tub with water so the boat could float.
Day 15: We made everything more stable so it could not mess up. We made everything more likely to work.
In order to find the actual physics components of our simple machines we used these equations:
velocity = change of distance/change of time
acceleration = change of velocity/change of time
force = (mass)(acceleration)
work = (force)(distance)
Velocity: is the directional speed of a object in motion a an indication of its rate of change in position as observed from a particular frame of reference and as measured by a particular standard of time. for this case I was finding the velocity of a ball rolloing down an incline plane
Velocity: is the directional speed of a object in motion a an indication of its rate of change in position as observed from a particular frame of reference and as measured by a particular standard of time. for this case I was finding the velocity of a ball rolloing down an incline plane
d=0.58m/ t=1.08 which gives us an average velocity of 0.053m/s V=0.053m/s
Energy: There are 2 main types of energy potential energy and kinetic energy (pe)(ke) Potential energy is the stored energy in any object or system of its position. It isn’t affected by the environment outside of the object or system, such as air or gravity. Kinetic energy is the energy of an object or a system’s particles in motion. Different from potential energy, the kinetic energy of an object is relative to other stationery and moving objects. For instance, the kinetic energy of the object will be higher if the object is placed at a greater height.
Potential energy isn’t transferable and it depends on the height or distance and mass of the object. Kinetic energy can be transferred from one moving object to another through vibration and rotation and is dependent on an object’s speed, velocity, and mass. The ball is 0.016kg(9.8m/s)0.18 PE=0.03 J
Acceleration: is the rate of change in velocity, how much something is speeding up or slowing down. To find the acceleration of something I divide the velocity by the time.
Force: Force is the push or pull of an object. To find the force of an object you multiply the mass of the object and the acceleration of the object. F=ma 9.8m/s times 0.67kg F= 6.5 m /kg/ s
Work: is the amount of energy put into something. In order to evaluate the work you must multiply the force an object is putting in and the distance work= (force)(distance).
Mechanical advantage: There are two types of mechanical advantages. Mechanical Advantage Real or Ma real is how much easier a tool makes a task. Mechanical Advantage Ideal, or Mai, is different because it's how much further, or more distance you have to push due to using a tool. This is calculated by dividing the force the load exerts by the F of the effort being put into moving the load.
Reflection
The Rube Goldberg machine was the very first project of the year so it was a little more challenging working as a group to divide up the work evenly as a group and also to stay on task and be as effective as we can. I felt like the overall project went very well and we kind of got things sorted out at the end. I felt like I could have been a little more empathetic toward the others in the group. I think the load should have been split more evenly rather than most of it resting on me one way I could do that is by ginging other people jobs and giving them things to do.
At the beginning of the project we had some trouble with compiling ideas but we soon got those sorted out. The first couple of days almost everyone was on task and getting things done. after those couple of days, some people including myself got off task a bit and we didn't get very much done. We also didn't give ourselves very much time to get the presentation done so right before rube Goldberg night one other student and I worked on finishing the presentation we got it done in time but that left us no time at all to practice our presentation.
During the construction, our group slips into two teams one other student and I worked on the construction while the other pair works on the art of making the boat and a few other things. Overall, the project was successful and a learning experience. I had to depend on other group members to get work done and it allowed me to realize I can't do everything by myself. I think this will make me a better leader because it will help me delegate responsibility rather than take it all on myself. I am now better prepared and skilled for the next project.
Page updated
Report abuse