Intro
Over the span of 5 weeks my three teammates and I planned, built, and presented our Rube Goldberg projects. A Rube Goldberg machine is a complex machine used to accomplish a simple task. During the first week we planned out our project and drew our first schematic. Then over the next three weeks we worked three days a week making our schematic reality. During our 5 and final week we calculated the math behind our machine and created our presentation.
Step by Step
Step 1 - Dominoes |
Step 2 and 3 - Levers |
5 Simple Machines
4 Energy Transfers
Concepts
Force - Push or pull on an object. Force = Mass x Acceleration. We calculated the force in step 1 and 10.
Velocity - Rate at which distance is covered in a certain direction. Velocity = Change in Distance divided by the Change in Time.
Mechanical Advantage - Mechanical advantage is how much easier something is with a machine versus without one. We calculated Mechanical Advantage in steps 2,3,5 and 9.
Acceleration - Rate of change in velocity. Acceleration = Change in Velocity over Change in Time. We calculated acceleration in steps 5,6, and 7.
Potential Energy/Kinetic Energy - PE is energy stored due to position and KE in energy dude to motion. PE engery i converted to KE in many instances. We calculated both in step 6 and 7 as well as our energy transfers slide.
Velocity - Rate at which distance is covered in a certain direction. Velocity = Change in Distance divided by the Change in Time.
Mechanical Advantage - Mechanical advantage is how much easier something is with a machine versus without one. We calculated Mechanical Advantage in steps 2,3,5 and 9.
Acceleration - Rate of change in velocity. Acceleration = Change in Velocity over Change in Time. We calculated acceleration in steps 5,6, and 7.
Potential Energy/Kinetic Energy - PE is energy stored due to position and KE in energy dude to motion. PE engery i converted to KE in many instances. We calculated both in step 6 and 7 as well as our energy transfers slide.
Reflection
During these 5 weeks I learned numerous things. I learned how to use a power saw and properly use a drill. I also learned teamwork and cooperation. If you can't get along your group won't accomplish anything. I was really good at fixing problems that surfaced with our machine. Our screw wasn't at the right angle so the ball didn't roll down very fast so i placed a small wedge in between the screw in and the wood to make a larger angle. Another problem we had was getting the two levers to work. A domino didn't weight enough to activate the two levers so we needed something bigger. I screwed a bolt into a lager washer to create a wight the properly activated the levers. Yet another issue we had was our pulley. The string that we used originally couldn't be cut by the scissors. Hannah came up with the idea of using fishing wire instead. The pulley was definitely the most inconsistent part of our project. The can had to be in the right place, the ball had to hit it with enough force and the string holding the weight had to be the perfect length. I could of done better on this project by staying with my group. I should have been more focused on our project then other groups' projects. I have learned valuable life skills from this project.