Rube Goldberg Project

• A Image from “the incredible machine” game

DEFINITION OF A RUBE GOLDBERG MACHINE

WHO IS RUBE GOLDBERG?

EXAMPLES OF RUBE MACHINES IN ADVERTISING, MOVIES AND THE REAL WORLD

“The Way Things Go”

Video Presentation of a Rube Goldberg machine

WHAT IS THE PROJECT ABOUT?

Goals and Objectives

You have completed the final classroom test of Physics portion of 9th grade Science.

This project will test how well you can connect the material covered in class to your solution

to a real world challenge.

The use of creativity is required and desired!!

The challenge

• Each student or group will create a Rube Goldberg based machine or design of a machine that complete a simple task in the most complicated way imaginable.

• For Drama and Dance majors, an interpretation of a Rube Goldberg-based machine using your abilities will be considered by the teacher

PROJECT CHOICES

Your project choices are

Create a 1) working machine that can be

demonstrated at school2) working machine that can be

videotaped in action at home3) a visual design of a machine

4) a different interpretation acceptable to Mr. Baker

New option continued

• Will have to connect your life to the concepts discussed in class just like the other groups and individuals

New option for period 7,5

Create “The day in your life” Rube

List 32 actions that happen to you over the course of a single 24-48 hour period

Each action is different from the other actions in some significant way

Option Three

If not doing either of the previous options, you must work on connecting concepts listed on the assignment sheet to your design or machine

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

Checklist for visual rube designers1. Main medium of presentation ________2. At least 16 steps _______3. 2 examples of at least 3 different forms of visual images

_______4. Type of presentation (sequential, all in one picture or

other) _________5. Written explanation of rube ______6. Having someone other than you read your written

explanation for clarity _____7. Clean, neat presentation ________8. A clear photograph of your final presentation, if applicable

_______

Checklist for Builders of Rube Machines

1. A minimum of 8 steps _______2. The entire rube works with no touches or outside

help for at least one run in front of teacher or on camera ______

3. Nothing dangerous or harmful was used _______4. Nobody was injured or harmed during the operation

of the Rube ______5. Video or photographic explanation of the Rube is

created _______6. Video, photographic and or journal entries describe

the group’s efforts to produce the rube, from concept to final run. _______

A t least one connection to each of these concepts must described for full

credit1. An object that is accelerating by increasing

its speed2. An object that is accelerating by

decreasing its speed3. An object that is accelerating with

constant velocity4. An object with unbalanced forces,

resulting in a sliding motion5. Two examples of objects demonstrating

Newton’s first law, one not moving and one in motion.

6. Identification of at least 2 sets of action-reaction forces one set involving an object that is in motion, the other set involving something that is stationary

7. An object that is in free-fall for more than 1/10th of a second

8. An example of the conservation of momentum, where momentum is transferred from one object to another

9. An example where forces are applied to an object, but no work is done by those forces on that object.

10. An example where the KE of an object decreases as its GPE increases

11. An example where the GPE of an object decreases as its KE increases

12. An example where significant energy was transferred from one object to another through use of waves and where the receiving object changes its motion as a result

To get maximum credit for your Rube, you have to connect objects, actions or events that with the

following physical values1. The object obtaining the highest speed

2. The object or point in the rube that has the greatest number of different forces applied to it.

3. 3 different locations of frictional forces created by the contact of different materials

4. The object with the largest amount of inertia that moves during the operation of the rube

5. Determine which object has the greatest amount of momentum during the operation of your Rube

6. The force that does the greatest amount of work during the operation of the Rube

7. The force that produces the highest power rating

8. Identification of use of at least 4 out of the 6 simple machines in the operation of the Rube

10. The object undergoing the greatest displacement

11. The exact moment and location when an object has the most GPE during the operation of the rube

12. Identification of the moment and location when objects possess either chemical or electromagnetic energy

13. Identification of a medium through which a significant (noticeable) amount of energy is transmitted

14. Determine which object makes the sound with the highest pitch during operation of the rube

15. Determine which object makes the sound with the highest intensity during operation of the Rube

16. The exact moment and location when an object has the most KE during the operation of the rube

To get maximum credit for your Rube, you should be able to include in your rube, an example of at least 3 of

the following concepts:

1. Demonstration of use of all 6 simple machines at least once during operation of the Rube

2. Identification and use of at least one compound machine during operation of the Rube

3. Use of a machine with a mechanical advantage of greater than one during operation of the Rube

4. An object that demonstrates the Doppler effect

5. An object that achieves terminal velocity

6. Use of an object that visually demonstrates the interference of light

7. The use of sound waves to make an object move

8. Use an object with your favorite color and determine the frequency or frequencies of light that must be reflected into your eyes for you to see that color

9. Use of infrared, ultraviolet or microwaves to make something move and trigger the next step in the Rube

What is required from youVisual Presentation:

1) Minimum of 16 steps (all different)2) Use of variety of materials to create the presentation3) Style, Quality counts4) Theme (option)5) Connect concepts to the design6) Collect data based on your design7) Calculate physical values based on collected data8) Have a photograph taken of your finished design

Partners

• No partner on the visual design

• Can partner with one person on constructing a working rube machine

• Partner may come from any of my Physical Science classes

• All honors student groups graded at honors level

Physical Presentations

1) Minimum of 8 steps (all different)2) A mistake free run (live or videotaped)3) A variety of materials used4) Videotaped (no more than 10 minutes long) showing the

process of construction5) Theme (option)6) Connect concepts to the design7) Collect data based on your design8) Calculate physical values based on collected data

Features of Rube Machine

• Very simple task to be completed by machine

• Many intermediate stepsmore for the drawn design less for actual construction

• Most of the work will be done at home, not during class time

What can your Rube be designed to accomplish

There are no wrong solutions!

Just incomplete ones

Limitations on choice of Actions or Steps

May not be derogatory to any individual or group

For the builders:1) candles are the only source of open flame allowed

(with parent permission)2) Nothing that is dangerous to yourself, others, or

the surrounding environment3) Additional limitations for those presentingin school

What is a step?

• Generally associated with an action

• Significant Transfer of energy

Connections

Some of the topics you need to connect to the Rube:

Net Force Friction KEWork done Refraction PitchDisplacement 1st Law MASimple Machines Acceleration3rd lawTransverse Waves Momentum Inertia

Rube

Connections to Physics– Sentences– Detail description

CalculationsEquationDataShow calculationsUnits

Rube

• Performance part questions• Connections to physics questions• Calculation questions

Show equation, values and workAll but the calculations typed, printed neatly

Equations needed

Use a value to the nearest tenth

TIPS ON BUILDING/DESIGNING A RUBE MACHINE

How to start designing/building a rube machine

• Start with you final task

• What action could be created to trigger the final action

• examples

Information for your agenda

Tuesday 1-22-08: Student must state their choice of project format, and partners (if applicable)

Tuesday, February 12th:All final photos, videos, presentations and paperwork are due by the end of the day3:00pm

PRESENTATION INFO

Your work will be presented to the rest of the class

• Hung up in class• Photographed and placed on my website• Videotaped and either linked to or placed on

my website• Presented in front of me and other student-

teachers

RUBE GRADE RUBRIC

Half of the project’s grade comes from the creation of the Rube

The other half comes from connecting physics to parts of the

rube