physics block group project: rube goldberg machinephysics block group project: rube goldberg machine...

Physics Block Group Project: Rube Goldberg Machine

1

Reuben Goldberg (1883-1970) was a San Francisco Bay Area newspaper cartoonist who was famous for drawing the most outrageously complicated multi-step contraptions to perform the simplest of tasks, for example, to tee up a golf ball without bending over (see exhibit A). The influence of Rube Goldberg in popular culture (movies, literature, consumer products, etc.) is everywhere. Can you think of a few examples of Rube Goldberg machines you have seen?

Exhibit A.

GOAL To design and construct a complicated device employing the concepts of Physics to perform a simple task. RULES AND LIMITS:

1. No Combustible/Dangerous/Harmful Equipment/Material. 2. No Preassembled Parts unless approved by teacher. 3. No Human or Animal Power. Must Be "Self-Powered" (once initiated). 4. Must be initiated from a single approved Marble. 5. You must build & demonstrate your device. Hopefully it will work. 6. Labels must be affixed to your project identifying the various concepts of Physics

you are presenting. 7. You must have a sign with the name of your machine clearly displayed. 8. Assembly and storage. You must be able to disassemble (and reassemble) your

project each day. Your group will be required to provide a large container or cardboard box to store your project materials and tools.

9. Restart. Your project must be restart-able in 2 minutes or less. 10. Optional Challenge. Try to make your machine work for more than 20 seconds.

Or make a unique sound at 6 seconds. (20 seconds has never been exceeded yet!)

GRADING & ASSESSMENT During this project, you will receive a “360-degree assessment”. You will assess your own performance on the project. Then, you will assess your project team members, and they will also assess you. Lastly, Mr. Kinney will assess you. All this information will be use for your final grade on the project, which will be about 25% of your grade on the block. In addition to the successful completion and presentation of your machine, you will be evaluated on your ability to communicate and work effectively with your team members, your ability to solve problems resourcefully, and your ability to manage your responsibilities on the project.


2

CONCEPTS OF PHYSICS: Each group member will be responsible for incorporating and presenting one of the following concepts of physics into the Rube Goldberg machine. For groups ahead of schedule, additional concepts may be incorporated into the machine for additional credit. 1st Class Lever 2nd Class Lever 3rd Class Lever Pulley Wedge Inclined Plane Wheel and Axel

Screw Gears/Gear Ratio Force Work Mechanical Advantage Efficiency Other Concept (Teacher Approved

GROUP STRUCTURE & SELCTION Project groups will be organized and assigned differently than past projects. First, each student will come up with a proposed simple task and artistic concept that will be presented to the entire class. This is a required step for all students (if a student does not do this they will lose their group preferences described later and receive a lower credit for the project). Student concepts will be presented to the class and the class will then select six final concepts for construction. Those students who have a project concept selected by the class will automatically be assigned to that project group. They will provide preferences for team members to assign to their project concept. Other students will provide first, second, third, and fourth choices for their preferred project concept. Mr. Kinney will try to see that each person receives one of his or her preferences, but cannot guarantee this. Project teams will be in groups of four to five students. PROJECT BENCHMARKS (preliminary list – dates subject to change) BENCHMARK: DESCRIPTION COMPLETION

DATE 1 PROJECT ASSIGNMENT AND OVERVIEW Today – January 6th 2 CONCEPT DUE

IN CLASS VOTING On or before Friday January 10th

3 PROJECT PREFERENCES DUE Monday January 13th 4 GROUPS ASSIGNED & AGREEMENTS DOCUMENTED Wednesday January

15th 5 CONCEPTS OF PHYSICS ASSIGNED/GROUP PLAN

COMPLETE On or before Friday January 17th

6 MATERIALS/TOOLS DUE (IN CONTAINER/BOX) On or before Wed. January 22nd

7 IN-CLASS CONSTRUCTION (3-DAYS) January 24-27-28 8 PRESENTATION SCRIPT AND IN CLASS REHEARSALS

AND TEST RUN Thursday January 30th

IN CLASS PRESENTATIONS Friday January 31st 9 GROUP MEMBER EVALUATIONS & PROJECT

REFLECTIONS Friday January 31st (1st Period)


3

Name: ________________________ BENCHMARK #2: CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Assignment must be completed on this page!!!

In this benchmark you will come-up with your simple task idea (not how it will actually work) and artistic concept for your Rube Goldberg Device. BE CREATIVE, but remember that you will have to do something you can actually build and explain! It should be a simple task that does one thing – don’t try anything with many steps or is too complicated. You will present your idea to the class. Avoid things that are too messy or dangerous – Mr. Kinney can reject any project he deems inappropriate, or may require changes to your idea. SIMPLE TASK DESCRIPTION: ARTISTIC CONCEPT DESCRIPTION: Teacher Signoff: ______


4


5

Name: ____________________ BENCHMARK #3: GROUP PREFERENCES

In this benchmark you will come up with your preferences for the group you will work on. Remember you are not guaranteed what group you will be assigned to. SIMPLE TASK PREFERENCES #1-5 (this will be kept confidential)

1. ___________________________________ 2. ___________________________________

3. ___________________________________

4. ___________________________________

5. ___________________________________

On my partner and group projects this year, I have already worked with (list names): ______________________________________________________________________________ Assigned Group: ______________________________


6


7

BENCHMARK #4: Rube Goldberg Group Agreements

Group Members: __________________ __________________ __________________ ___________________ ___________________ The following agreements will make our group successful with our project. Ten agreements are required. See your Collaboration Rubric for ideas. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Every member of our group agrees to follow these expectations. Signatures: Teacher Approval: _____ (before these are signed by group members)


8


9

Name: ________________ BENCHMARK #5: GROUP PROJECT PLAN

In this benchmark you will come up a plan for your Rube Goldberg machine. This will include a list of contacts in the group, materials needed for the machine, and the assignment of the concepts of physics. The teacher must sign off your information to receive full credit on this assignment Contact information: You may need to contact a group member during the project

Partner Name E-mail address Phone #

Assignment of Physics Concepts. Each person will be responsible for creating and presenting an “event” in the Rube Goldberg Machine that demonstrates a concept of Physics we are studying. The list includes: 1st Class Lever 2nd Class Lever 3rd Class Lever Pulley Wedge Inclined Plane Wheel and Axel

Screw Gears/Gear Ratio Force Work Mechanical Advantage Efficiency Other Concept (Teacher Approved)


10

Group Member Name Concept of Physics

Materials Needed. While some tools and materials will be available in the classroom, you need to plan to supply the majority of tools and materials within your group. It is important to think about how you are going to put it together and what it is made of. Materials Who’s Responsible Box for materials

Tools

Materials

Teacher Signoff: ______


11

RG Benchmark 8: Presentation Script & Plan Name: __________________________ Your group’s presentation script and labels should accomplish the following:

1. Introduce you machine’s simple tasks (pick one person to do this), which should be clearly labeled with a sign.

2. Each person will explain how the Rube Goldberg machine demonstrates his or her assigned concepts of physics (this should be in order the machine demonstrates them). Each concept of physics must be clearly labeled on the machine.

3. Each person will describe one thing they learned about working in groups on his or her project.

4. Each person’s script should be approximately 30 - 45 seconds, and 1-minute maximum for those that explain more concepts or introduce machine.

5. Try to make your script engaging and creative, and not just sound like the other presentations!

6. Labels and signs should be creative/artistic! The outline for your one paragraph script:

1. Introduce yourself and your concept of physics (topic sentence). 2. Define your concept of physics (supporting detail). 3. Explain how your machine will demonstrate your concept of physics (supporting detail). 4. Give practical applications (real world examples) for your concept of physics. (supporting

detail) 5. Explain one learning you had from collaborating together on your project (supporting

detail) 6. Conclude your concept of physics (concluding sentence). This can be a transition

sentence to the next person. Script Schedule:

A. Your typed first rough draft is due Tuesday. You will do a group edit in class. B. Your second rough draft is due Wednesday to Mr. Kinney C. A Final draft is due Thursday to Mr. Kinney. You should have an additional copy for

yourself. D. Our dress rehearsal is Thursday. Your script may be used for the rehearsal. E. Our final presentations are Friday. Your script should be memorized for advanced work.

If it is not memorized, it should be transferred to a smaller index card.


12


13

Group: _____________________________ BENCHMARK #8: In Class

Presentations

In this benchmark, your Rube Goldberg Machine presentation will be assessed against the criteria for the project. Scoring Group Criteria Machine Theme/Artistry 1 2 3 4 5 Human Intervention 1 2 3 4 5 Task Success 1 2 3 4 5 Clear Labels, Sign 1 2 3 4 5 Restart-able in 2 min 1 2 3 4 5 No Preassembled Parts 1 2 3 4 5 Bonus Criteria Unique Sound 6 sec 1 2 3 4 5 20 Second Duration 1 2 3 4 5 Total Group Score: _____ Individual Presentation Script usage and thorough explanation of event(s), Oral presentation skills (posture, projection, enunciation, etc.) 1. ___________________ 1 2 3 4 5 2. ___________________ 1 2 3 4 5 3. ___________________ 1 2 3 4 5 4. ___________________ 1 2 3 4 5 5. ___________________ 1 2 3 4 5


14


15

Name: ____________________ BENCHMARK #9: Group Member Evaluation and

Project Reflection Group Task: _____________________

1. Our group collaborated productively and worked well together. EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

2. Our group managed our project effectively. EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

3. List one suggestion you have that would have improved the performance of your group.


16

This section will be kept confidential. Scores will be averaged between the entire group. 4. I did MY PART to make the group successful. Explain why or why not. BE SPECIFIC!

1 2 3 4 5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 5. Group member __________________ (insert name) did their part to make the group successful. Explain why or why not. BE SPECIFIC!

1 2 3 4 5


1 2 3 4 5


1 2 3 4 5


1 2 3 4 5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

physics block group project: rube goldberg machinephysics block group project: rube goldberg machine...

Documents