RUBE GOLDBERG

MACHINE

THEME

STEP 1Marble is released and gravity pulls the marble down into the marble tower and the gravitational potential energy is converted to translational and then rotational kinetic energy.

*Wheel & Axle provides pazaz and speed* (Simple Machine #1)

Marble drops out onto hot wheels track

STEP 2

Marble hits and transfers most of kinetic energy to the ping pong ball sending it down another hot wheels track which allows it to build up more speed

Kinetic Energy

*Inclined Plane* (Simple Machine #2)

STEPS 3 AND 4

Kinetic Energy

(Step 3:)Ping Pong ball transfers energy to the army man (Theme incorporation #1) and sends the army man flying to Infinity and beyond (a few inches) (Translational KE)

(Step 4:) String is pulled as the army man is knocked out and the string pulls a popsicle stick out from in front of a bouncy ball (translational KE)

STEPS 5 AND 6(Step 5:) Bouncy ball’s potential energy is converted to rotational kinetic energy as it travels down the track.

Kinetic Energy(Step 6:) Bouncy ball transfers most of its rotational energy to the Sunnyside moving truck (Still rotational KE) (Theme incorporation #2) and sends that in motion off of the track.

STEPS 7 AND 8

(Step 7:) The Sunnyside moving truck rolls off the edge of the track above and down onto another track, where its gravitational PE and rotational KE push one end of the track down.

Lever (Simple Machine #3)

(Step 8:) The opposite side of the lever is thrown upward and knocks a domino out of its position. (Gives the domino translational KE)

BRIEF PREVIEW/GLANCE

STEP 9

String connected to domino in step 8 is pulled as a result of step 8 and the translational KE pulls the paper/tape barrier away from the front of the marble.

STEP 10

NOTE: This is NOT a screw and we did NOT count it as such.

Marble’s potential energy is then converted to rotational KE as the marble rolls down the tubing. The marble as has gravitational KE which helps the marble gain speed.

STEP 11

Kinetic Energy

Marble rolls out of the tube and transfers energy to the chain of dominos at which point the domino’s potential energy is converted to translational KE and the dominos fall over.

STEPS 12 AND 13

(Step 12:) The string that is connected to the domino is step 11 is pulled as the domino in step 11 falls and this releases the ping pong ball.

(Step 13:) Ping pong ball’s potential energy is converted to rotational KE as it rolls down the track.

Kinetic Energy

STEPS 14 AND 15(Step 14:) The rolling ping pong ball hits one end of the popsicle stick and moves it (Transfer of energy – Popsicle stick has translational KE).

(Step 15:) The bouncy ball’s PE is converted to rotational KE as it is released and rolls down the track.

STEP 16

Kinetic Energy

The bouncy ball transfers energy to the paper clip and the paper clips PE is converted to translational KE as the ball knocks it off the nail.

STEP 17Side ViewBroad View

Pulley (Simple Machine # 4)

The released paper clip and string travel up and around the pulley as the pouch falls and its gravitational PE is converted to translational KE (Pouch is holding big bouncy ball)

Kine

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STEP 18Po

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The pouch comes down and transfers energy to the golf ball as it hits the golf ball and the golf ball rolls down a little ways into a hole to complete the task (In this process the golf ball’s PE is converted to rotational KE).NOTE: The hole isn’t visible

on this slide show but is present on the actual machine.

THE END