Experiment for Rube Goldberg

Student Names:

Machine you will be experimenting with (check one). This is NOT the design for your
machine. This is an experiment to better understand simple machines.

Levers Inclined plane Wedge Compare all six

Pulleys Wheel and axle Screw

Purpose/Objective:
To use a simple Rube Goldberg machine to pop a balloon using a series of events. The machine will include a series of
simple machines, including leavers, inclined plane, wedge, and pulleys. Several objects and forces of energy will also be
used.

Hypothesis:
If the forces of energy all work and all the simple machines work correctly,
Then the objective will be achieved,
Because the objects will cause the steps to continue ending up popping the balloon.

Materials:
Wood x3
Marble
Small ball x4
Polystyrene Triangles x2
Cardboard ramps x2
Cardboard strips x4
Toilet roll
Empty Plastic Bottle
Straw
Pins x3
Tape x20
Glue
Bowl
Safety Tape
String
Balloon
Plastic cup
Needle
 Mr. Fields Rube Goldberg Project 12

Conduct an investigation
Conduct your experiment. Use your data to determine which simple machines will best
serve your machine.

Write a lab report including the background information, data and conclusion.

Plan your machine

Plan your machine and submit a proposal to Mrs Freeman
Identify your group members and your goals for the machine.

Draw some diagrams of your Rube Goldberg machine design. Create a materials list of what
you will need. Include building materials as well as tools and safety equipment necessary.
 Mr. Fields Rube Goldberg Project 13

Rube Goldberg Project Proposal

A complete project proposal includes two pages of diagrams and a materials list. You may
not begin construction until your proposal is approved by Mrs Freeman

What simple machine(s) will you use in your project?

- Inclined plane
- Wedge
- Pulley
- Levers

What two (or more) physics options will you use in your project?

- Inertia, as the marble and balls keep moving even if the slope is straight and not on a sloping angle.
- Momentum, as the marble uses the speed to keep moving.
 Mr. Fields Rube Goldberg Project 14

Rube Goldberg Machine Diagrams

Detail View
 Mr. Fields Rube Goldberg Project 15

Rube Goldberg Machine Diagrams

Front View
 Mr. Fields Rube Goldberg Project 16

Rube Goldberg Machine Materials List

Building Materials
Material Quantity Size Weight Dimensions Purpose
17cm 10 grams
/Piece of wood 3 long each 17cm3 Inclined Plane
17cm
Polystyrene 2 long 1gram each 71.5cm3 Wedge
21cm
Toilet roll 1 long 4 grams 263.928cm3 Inclined Plane

Empty Plastic Bottle 1 22cm tall 5 grams 345.62cm3 Pulley

Straw 8cm long 1 gram 8cm3 Object

Cardboard strips 4 8cm long 4 grams 32cm3 Objects

Cannot
Cardboard ramps 2 measure 6 grams Cannot measure Objects
Tools for construction
Material Quantity Size Weight Dimensions Purpose
From 8- Lighter than a To keep the objects
Tape 20 strips 18cm gram each Dimensions vary in place
To hold objects in
1cm place and allow
3
pins 3 diameter 2 grams each 6.28cm movement
To hold parts
glue Cannot specify ------------ ----------------- -------------------------- together
Safety Equipment
Material Quantity Size Weight Dimensions Purpose
To collect spilling
Bowl 1 ------------ 470 grams -------------------------- water
To cover needle to
Tape 1 ------------ gram -------------------------- prevent harm
 Mr. Fields Rube Goldberg Project 17

Ask questions about data

What else do you need to know? How can the data tell you best way to build your machine?
Think about speed, vectors, velocity, angles, mass, etc. You may need to investigate further
to determine the best way to build your machine.

Evaluate the experimental design

How much force is needed to start the machine? How much force exits the machine?
Describe the types of energy transferred in the device.

Visit http://learn.fi.edu/guide/hughes/energychangeex.html for examples of types of energy.

How much time will your machine take to run? What is the speed of energy transfer at each
step?

What changes do you need to make to the design? Is there something in the plans that will not
work for this project? Why? What is the limiting factor?
 Mr. Fields Rube Goldberg Project 18

Develop a model
Draw a diagram of your planned final device. Label what happens at each point of
energy transfer. Identify each simple machine or physics concept employed.

Design a device
Draw a labeled diagram of your machine with instructions of your steps for construction.
How will you attach the parts? What size or weight does each part need to be? (Use metric
measurements!)

Construct the device

After assembling the materials in the classroom, build your Rube Goldberg machine.

Test the device

Conduct at least five test runs to ensure that your machine is reliable. Make sure that the
force required to start the machine is still less than the force that exits the machine.

Measure velocity changes along the way. For example:

Time 1:12 1:59 2:36 2:56 3:16
Position (cm) 3,0,0 5,0,0 11,0,0 5,0,0 3,0,0
Displacement 2 6 6 2
Velocity (in cm/sec) 0 7 15 -15 -4

If your device includes a temperature change, record changes in temperature.

 Mr. Fields Rube Goldberg Project 19

Present arguments using evidence

Now that you have designed, experimented, studied, tested, revised, constructed and
analyzed your Rube Goldberg machine, it is time to share your experience in writing.

Write a six paragraph report explaining how you fulfilled the requirements of this project. Think
of yourself as a scientist sharing your findings. Explain so someone from another school could
understand what you have done, how you did it, and what it all meant.

Your report must be typed.

Your report must be in Times New Roman or Arial font.
Your report must be in 12 point font.
Your report may be submitted electronically or printed.

Your report must be structured like this:

I. Introduction
a. The purpose of this project is to gain a
greater understanding of physics concepts
by using them to construct a machine.
b. This report will describe the design process.
c. This report will also describe how physics
concepts are demonstrated in the machine.
II. Process
a. Planning and conducting investigation.
b. Analyzing data and design
c. Modeling and design
d. Construction and testing
e. Include at least one drawing or picture
III. Simple machines
a. What simple machine(s) did you use, and
how did they help the device?
IV. Physics concept choices
a. Which two physics concepts did you choose
to demonstrate in your machine?
i. Wave (sound or mechanical)
ii. Collision
iii. Chemical reaction
 Mr. Fields Rube Goldberg Project 20

iv. Temperature change

v. Magnetism
vi. Electricity
vii. Change of motion (acceleration)
viii. Light
b. Define the concept, and use evidence to
describe how it was used in your machine.
V. Physics basics
a. Define the concept, and use evidence to
describe how it was used in your machine.
i. Potential Energy
ii. Kinetic Energy
iii. Inertia
iv. Momentum
v. Speed
VI. Conclusion and reflection
a. How did your machine help you understand
the way physics works?
b. What would you change or do differently if
you were asked to build another machine?

In this term of SRT, I was chosen to create a Rube Goldberg machine which is a machine that uses
a sequence of steps to achieve a goal. The machine utilised different energy types to operate the
machine. Several simple machines were also used in the experiment including; inclined planes,
wedges, pulleys and levers. The design of my machine was to use as many simple machines as I
could and create a Rube Goldberg machine that popped the balloon in the end.

To build the machine, I used recycled parts from my household. During the construction, I decided
to test each object individually before attaching to the cardboard. After everything was attached, I
decided to conduct the experiment. After many attempts, I was able to reach the end objective of
popping the balloon.

The machine included four of six simple machines as I was unable to get a wheel and axle, or a
screw. My machine consisted of seven inclined planes, two wedges, a pulley and a lever. The
inclined planes helped as they allowed the marble to roll down. The wedges was also effective for
this reason but for a sharper angle. The pulley was useful as it rose up causing a new ball to start
from the top again. The lever was very useful for popping the balloon as it gains speed quickly.
Change of motion was used in the machine, as every time the slope changed direction or
steepness, the marble changed speed and direction. Collision was also used, as when the
small balls hit each other, because of the speed, they were all knocked down.

Potential energy was used when the water weakened the toilet paper causing it to weaken
and snap off. Kinetic energy was used when the marble picked up speed in order to land
heavily into the water to make it splash into the straw. Inertia was used because even if the
slope became flat, the balls kept moving forward as they had inertia to keep going meaning.
Momentum was used when the marble used the slope to keep moving and used the speed
to keep rolling even if the slope had no incline. Speed was used when the slope leaned
down causing the speed of the marble to increase.

Because using the forces in action helped me get a better understanding of them as the
machine used all of them. If I had to create another Rube Goldberg machine, then I would try
and add more forces of energy and simple machines.