2015 rube goldberg project guidelines - mayfield city schools goldberg 2014-2015.pdf · rube...

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2015 Rube Goldberg Project Guidelines Objective: Each student or group of students will construct a Rube Goldberg machine consisting of consecutive energy transfers that will result in Erasing a Chalkboard or Whiteboard. Who was Rube Goldberg and what is a Rube Goldberg Machine? Rube Goldberg (1883 1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author. Goldberg became renowned for creating absurdly connected machines that functioned in extremely complex and roundabout ways in order to accomplish a very basic task. While most machines made complex tasks much simpler, Goldberg’s inventions worked in reverse – transforming a simple task into a complicated sequence of energy transfers.

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Page 1: 2015 Rube Goldberg Project Guidelines - Mayfield City Schools Goldberg 2014-2015.pdf · Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author

2015 Rube Goldberg Project Guidelines

Objective:

Each student or group of students will construct a Rube Goldberg machine consisting of consecutive

energy transfers that will result in Erasing a Chalkboard or Whiteboard.

Who was Rube Goldberg and what is a Rube Goldberg Machine? Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author. Goldberg

became renowned for creating absurdly connected machines that functioned in extremely complex and

roundabout ways in order to accomplish a very basic task. While most machines made complex tasks

much simpler, Goldberg’s inventions worked in reverse – transforming a simple task into a complicated

sequence of energy transfers.

Page 2: 2015 Rube Goldberg Project Guidelines - Mayfield City Schools Goldberg 2014-2015.pdf · Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author

Requirements: 1. You may work alone or in groups of up to three people to construct your Rube Goldberg machine.

2. If you work alone or in a pair, your machine must consist of at least seven (7) distinct energy

transfers that lead to the final step of Erasing a Chalkboard or Whiteboard. If you work in a group

of three, you must utilize ten (10) distinct energy transfers. While these are the minimum

requirements, you are encouraged to do more.

3. Erasing a Chalkboard or Whiteboard will entail mechanically erasing a word number or drawing that

fills (50% or more coverage) a 2in × 4in area on the chalkboard/ whiteboard. Creativity and

appropriate humor is encouraged with regard to the content your machine erases.

a. Whiteboard material is available at many local stores for purchase (Home Depot,

Michaels, etc). Classroom whiteboards can be used as well, but not taken from room.

4. Teams will be given 3 attempts to accomplish the task on the day of the testing. For each trial that

fails, 3 points will be deducted from the score.

5. In addition to the completion of the basic task, your group must produce a step-by-step explanation

of your Rube Goldberg machine. Explanations should include schematic drawings or digital pictures

depicting each energy transfer and the setup of your machine. While the explanations and drawings

will not be graded based on artistic ability, they should clearly explain and depict the energy

transfers occurring and be professional in nature.

6. In order to keep your group on track, you must submit a rough version of your step-by-step

explanation by Thursday, December 18, 2014 as a progress check.

7. The testing of the machines will take place on January 15, 2015 during class in room 181.

Therefore you must set up the machine either before class (in the morning or the previous

afternoon) or during class.

8. All machines will also be judged for originality, design and entertainment.

a. A vote will be held to decide which machine has the overall best design or theme

b. A vote will be held to decide the single most original energy transfer across all machines

c. A vote will be held to decide the most entertaining machine overall

Grading: At least 7 energy transfers (10 for trios) 40 points (1 extra point for each additional energy

transfer)

Successful completion of task 9 points (3 point deduction for each failed trial)

Step-by-Step Explanation with diagrams 31 points

Progress Check 20 points

Total 100 points (plus any bonus points)

Three Bonus competitions a. Best design/theme—Vote b. Most original energy transfer—Vote c. Most entertaining overall—Vote

Each bonus competition can earn you 5 bonus points, and these points can be added even if they increase your score beyond the perfect 100 points (These are the most valuable bonus points to get)

Page 3: 2015 Rube Goldberg Project Guidelines - Mayfield City Schools Goldberg 2014-2015.pdf · Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author

Action-Day Performance Rubric

Qualifying Energy Transfers (40+ points) If you work alone or in a pair, your machine must consist of at least seven (7) distinct energy transfers

that lead to the final steps of hammering the nail. If you work in a group of three, you must utilize ten

(10) distinct energy transfers. While these are the minimum requirements, you are encouraged to do

more.

Clarification on the descriptions used for a single “distinct energy transfer”

Must be documented in the Step-by-Step Explanation handed in on Action-Day

Kinetic energy is transferred by some means from one object to another

Ex: A falling baseball lands in a cup that pulls on a string…

o If electrical systems are used (it is encouraged for diversity) an isolated electrical

component can only count for a maximum of two transitions: an input and output

Input example: a level lowers on to an electrical button

Output example: a motor (turned on by the button) pulls a string

o Repeating series

A locally repeating process counts as one object with two transitions: an input

and an output (Ex: a series of dominoes counts as one object, with an input to

start the first domino to fall, and an output the last domino causes to happen)

Any energy transition can only qualify once and, if repeated elsewhere in the

machine, will only be counted once.

Erasing a Chalkboard or Whiteboard will entail mechanically erasing a word number or drawing

that fills (50% or more coverage) a 2in × 4in area on the chalkboard/ whiteboard. Creativity and

appropriate humor is encouraged with regard to the content your machine erases.

Energy Transfer 1 Energy Transfer 2 Energy Transfer 3 Energy Transfer 4 Energy Transfer 5

Quick description: Quick description: Quick description: Quick description: Quick description:

Energy Transfer 6 Energy Transfer 7 Energy Transfer 8 Energy Transfer 9 Energy Transfer 10

Quick description: Quick description: Quick description: Quick description: Quick description:

Successful Completion of Task (15 points) Teams will be given 3 attempts to accomplish the task on the day of the testing. For each trial that fails, 5 points

will be deducted from the score. A smiley will be drawn at your successful attempt below.

Trial #1____________ Trail #2____________ Trial #3___________ Score Earned_______________

Running Time: ______________________________

6pts/transfer for pairs or smaller

4pts/transfer for groups of three

Page 4: 2015 Rube Goldberg Project Guidelines - Mayfield City Schools Goldberg 2014-2015.pdf · Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author

Step-by-Step Explanation The images and descriptions will be graded based on the following requirements. Each individual

transition is scored separately, and those scores are compiled to determine the grade for the report.

1. Images, which can be hand-drawn or photographed (3pts max)

a. Clearly show the energy transfer

b. Energy input, potential, and output is labeled

i. Arrows or circles that clarify where the energy is coming from and going to

2. Explanation of energy transition (7pts max)

a. Identify the kinetic (or other) energy that is used to start the energy transition(1pt)

b. Identify the potential energy that must be stored for the transition to work(2pts)

c. Describe the type of energy output- what happens as a result of the transition(2pts)

d. Describe a plausible problem that could cause this transition to fail(2pts)

i. HINT: This may be something that you have to consider during construction

Total score earned:

(10 × # 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑑)= ______________% 𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒

% (from above) X 30pts = final score __________________

Page 5: 2015 Rube Goldberg Project Guidelines - Mayfield City Schools Goldberg 2014-2015.pdf · Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author
Page 6: 2015 Rube Goldberg Project Guidelines - Mayfield City Schools Goldberg 2014-2015.pdf · Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author

* **There is always a

capacity for this

document to change.

An attempt to note any

changes will be made in

class.

Page 7: 2015 Rube Goldberg Project Guidelines - Mayfield City Schools Goldberg 2014-2015.pdf · Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author

Voting Ballot Best Design/ Theme:

Most Creative Energy Transfer:

Most Entertaining:

Voting Ballot Best Design/ Theme:

Most Creative Energy Transfer:

Most Entertaining:

Voting Ballot Best Design/ Theme:

Most Creative Energy Transfer:

Most Entertaining:

Voting Ballot Best Design/ Theme:

Most Creative Energy Transfer:

Most Entertaining: