Rube Goldberg Machine
Introduction To Project
This was our assignment:
"Essential Question:
What is the most complicated way we can complete a task using simple machines in the manner of Rube Goldberg?
Or
In Contradiction to Occam's razor, which states that the simplest explanation or path is the correct one, and in an effort to forego all shortcuts, cheats, and efficient uses of our time, how can we take a task that is of the utmost simplicity -- a job that requires no additional steps or thought, something so simple that (in deference to Geico Insurance) a caveman can do it -- and utilize our knowledge of the functions and uses of simple machines such as levers, wheels and axles, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges, and screws, as well as taking inspiration from the cartooning work predominantly credited to the great Rube Goldberg to create a complex and labyrinthine series of steps so confusing and maze-like that most people cannot follow it clearly upon first glance and then use this round-about method and series of steps to, as an end product, merely result in the original simple task being completed?"
Basically, we had to make a Rube Goldberg Machine.
"Essential Question:
What is the most complicated way we can complete a task using simple machines in the manner of Rube Goldberg?
Or
In Contradiction to Occam's razor, which states that the simplest explanation or path is the correct one, and in an effort to forego all shortcuts, cheats, and efficient uses of our time, how can we take a task that is of the utmost simplicity -- a job that requires no additional steps or thought, something so simple that (in deference to Geico Insurance) a caveman can do it -- and utilize our knowledge of the functions and uses of simple machines such as levers, wheels and axles, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges, and screws, as well as taking inspiration from the cartooning work predominantly credited to the great Rube Goldberg to create a complex and labyrinthine series of steps so confusing and maze-like that most people cannot follow it clearly upon first glance and then use this round-about method and series of steps to, as an end product, merely result in the original simple task being completed?"
Basically, we had to make a Rube Goldberg Machine.
Steps
Step 1: A marble is lifted up a marble elevator.
Step 2: It is dropped into a funnel, and then down a screw.
Step 3: It knocks a block off of a platform, allowing the pulley to pull up on the lever.
Step 4: The lever lifts, and a golf ball rolls down it.
Step 5: The golf ball rolls down an inclined plane.
Step 6: It rolls into a swivel, which pushes a tennis ball.
Step 7: The tennis ball hits a large lever, which pushes a blue ball, and the tennis ball rolls into a chime.
Step 8: The chime falls.
Step 9: It hits another chime and makes a noise.
Step 10: The blue ball from Step 7 knocks a whoopee cushion onto a chair.
Step 2: It is dropped into a funnel, and then down a screw.
Step 3: It knocks a block off of a platform, allowing the pulley to pull up on the lever.
Step 4: The lever lifts, and a golf ball rolls down it.
Step 5: The golf ball rolls down an inclined plane.
Step 6: It rolls into a swivel, which pushes a tennis ball.
Step 7: The tennis ball hits a large lever, which pushes a blue ball, and the tennis ball rolls into a chime.
Step 8: The chime falls.
Step 9: It hits another chime and makes a noise.
Step 10: The blue ball from Step 7 knocks a whoopee cushion onto a chair.
Video
Topic |
Description |
Units |
How To Measure |
How To Calculate |
Time
|
Time is how long it takes for something to happen.
|
seconds
|
Stopwatch
|
Distance
|
Distance is how far apart two points are.
|
meters
|
Meter Stick
|
Speed / Velocity
|
Speed is how fast something is moving. Velocity is how fast something is moving and the direction in which it is moving.
|
meters/second
|
Radar Gun
|
Distance/Time
|
Acceleration
|
Acceleration is how fast something is speeding up or slowing down.
|
m/s^2
|
Accelerometer
|
Change In Velocity / Time
|
Mass
|
Mass is how much matter is in something.
|
kilograms
|
Balance
|
Force
|
Force is how hard something is being pushed or pulled.
|
N = (kg*m/s^2)
|
Spring Scale
|
Mass * Acceleration
|
Weight
|
Weight is how heavy something is.
|
N = (kg*m/s^2)
|
Scale
|
Mass * Gravity
|
Energy
|
J = N*m = (kg*m^2/s^2)
|
Add all types of energy together.
|
Work
|
Work is how much energy you need to expend to do something.
|
J = N*m = (kg*m^2/s^2)
|
Force * Distance
|
Potential Energy
|
Potential energy is energy stored in the height of an object.
|
J = N*m = (kg*m^2/s^2)
|
Mass * Height * Gravitational Acceleration
|
Kinetic Energy
|
Kinetic energy is energy stored in the motion of an object.
|
J = N*m = (kg*m^2/s^2)
|
Mass * (Velocity^2)
|
Power
|
Power is how fast energy is being used.
|
W = J/s = N*m/s = (kg*m^2/s^3)
|
Work / Time
|
Impulse
|
Impulse is a change in momentum.
|
N*s = kg*m/s
|
Force * Time
|
Momentum
|
Momentum is the quantity of motion of a moving body.
(Google's definition) |
N*s = kg*m/s
|
Mass * Velocity
|
Mechanical Advantage
|
Mechanical advantage is how much easier a machine makes it to do work.
|
1
|
Load/Effort
|
How I Used Concepts In My Rube Goldberg Machine
Note: Underlined text is quantities that were measured. Bold text is what we were trying to calculate.
Step |
What I Did |
Step 1
Marble Elevator |
When you turn the handle of the marble elevator three times, your finger moves a distance of 24*pi Lego pegs. When you do this, the piece that lifts the marbles moves 3*pi Lego pegs. Therefore, the (ideal) mechanical advantage of the wheel and axle system in the marble elevator is 8.
|
Step 2
Funnel and Screw |
Potential energy of marble when it enters screw = m*g*h = 0.00285 kg * 9.8 (m/s^2) * 0.38 m = 0.0106 J
Kinetic Energy of marble when it leaves screw: m*(v^2) = 0.00285 kg * (1.117 m/s)^2 =0.001778 J Energy lost to friction: 0.0106 J - 0.001778 J = 0.0088 J Percent of energy lost to friction: 0.0088 J / 0.0106 J = .83 = 83% |
Step 3
Block and Pulley |
Kinetic Energy of marble when it leaves screw: m*(v^2) = 0.00285 kg * (1.117 m/s)^2 =0.001778 J
Energy imparted into block: 0.001778 J |
Step 4
Golf Ball Lever |
The input force is exerted at 53 cm from the lever. The output force is exerted at 48 cm from the lever.
Therefore, the (ideal) mechanical advantage is 53/48 = 1.104. |
Step 5
Inclined Plane |
The inclined plane was 3 times as long as it was high, so it had an (ideal) mechanical advantage of 3.
|
Step 6
Swivel (mini-lever) |
Impulse on lever = momentum of golf ball = mass of golf ball * velocity of golf ball = 49.4 kg * 0.77 m/s = 0.38 Ns
|
Step 7
The Big White Lever |
Distance tennis ball falls = 0.1 m
0.1 m = 9.8 m/(s^2) * (time it falls)^2 / 2 Time it falls = 1/7 second Velocity on impact = g*t = 9.8 m/(s^2) * 1/7 s = 1.4 m/s Mass of tennis ball = 0.05455 kg Momentum on impact = 0.05455 kg * 1.4 m/s = 0.07637 N*s Impulse into lever = 0.07637 N*s Time of contact with lever = 0.09 s Force into lever = Impulse / Time of contact = 0.07637/0.09 = 0.848555N Input force position = 8 cm from fulcrum Output force position = 16 cm from fulcrum MA = 1/2 Output force = MA * Input = 0.4243 N |
Step 8
Ending 1: Part 1: The Fall |
Chime falls 0.3 meters
d = g(t^2)/2 0.3 m = 9.8 m/(s^2) * t^2 / 2 0.3 m/(4.9 m/(s^2)) = t^2 3/49 s^2 = t^2 t = 0.2474 s v = g*t = 9.8 m/(s^2) * 0.2474 s = 2.425 m/s |
Step 9
Ending 1: Part 2: Clang! |
Energy turning into heat + sound = KE = m*v^2 = 0.0266 kg * (2.425 m/s)^2 = 0.1564J
|
Step 10
Ending 2: Whoopee Cushion |
It takes 12 pounds = 53 Newtons of force to make the whoopee cushion make a noise.
|
Reflection
In this project, there were both peaks and pits. The first peak was when I already had a marble elevator for the first step. This was nice because it saved us a lot of time. The second peak was when the whoopee cushion was brought in. At that point, we could finally see the project coming together. The first pit was when we couldn't get a funnel. This held us up for days because we couldn't position the rest of the machine until we positioned the funnel. The second pit was when the motor for the marble elevator broke. Fortunately, we were able to make a hand crank to replace the motor.
One thing that I learned about myself is that I am easily distracted by whoopee cushions.
One thing that I learned about myself is that I am easily distracted by whoopee cushions.