Rube Goldberg Machine

A Rube Goldberg machine is a fabulously over-engineered apparatus that humorously performs a very simple task in very indirect and convoluted fashion

Purpose: Your Rube Goldberg machine needs to perform one of the following tasks in the most complicated way. (If you would like to choose another task, you need to get it approved before you start planning.)

● turn on a light bulb ● pour a drink

● sharpen a pencil ● pop a balloon

Design: Your Rube Goldberg machine needs to include a minimum of 5 steps from start to finish, each step utilizing some principle of physics. Your design should not include offensive materials or themes.

Physics: Your machine needs to contain at least 5 different events. In your “report” you need to describe each event in a couple of sentences using appropriate physics terminology. (In your report, please number your events.)

Construction: Your machine can be constructed from materials that you scrounge from home, family, friends, or work. The total cost for your machine need not exceed $20.00. You should build a frame with a solid bottom, and fasten pieces onto it with nails, screws, glue, etc. The final project should be sturdy, transportable, and professional looking. You will not actually build the machine, you will design and ILLUSTRATE it. This keeps the cost down, but more importantly, you are not limited by anything but your own imagination.

Written “Report”: Treat your “report” as an attempt to sell your wonderful new way of accomplishing one of the above-mentioned tasks. The format should be a 1-page brochure. The “report” should contain an introduction and conclusion that focus on selling your device, and a body that describes the events and relevant physics.

Grading: Your overall grade on the Rube Goldberg machine will be based on the machine illustration itself, and your written report (brochure). Please see the rubric for the specific grading scheme.

Due Date: Friday, April 24, 2015

Category / Points
Excellent (3) / Good (2) / Poor (1) / Unacceptable (0)
Communication
____ x3 =______
Points Category score / The “report” is both clear and concise. No or almost no grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors are present. / The “report” is both clear and concise. A significant number of grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors are present. / The “report” is either clear or concise. A significant number of grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors are present. / The “report” is neither clear nor concise. A significant number of grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors are present.
Intro & Conclusion
____ x6 =______
Points Category score / The introduction and conclusion are well written and make a very convincing argument as to why someone should purchase your Rube-Goldberg machine for home use. They do not include the history of Rube-Goldberg machines. / The introduction and conclusion are well written and make a somewhat convincing argument as to why someone should purchase your Rube-Goldberg machine for home use. They do not include the history of Rube-Goldberg machines. / Either the introduction or the conclusion includes the history of Rube-Goldberg machines. / Either the introduction or the conclusion is missing.
Events
____ x6 =______
Points Category score / Each event in the Rube-Goldberg machine is both
· Sequentially numbered, and
· Correctly explained in a couple of sentences using appropriate physics terminology. / Most of the events in the Rube-Goldberg machine are both
· Sequentially numbered, and
· Correctly explained in a couple of sentences using appropriate physics terminology. / Each event in the Rube-Goldberg machine is
· Sequentially numbered, but is
· Explained without using appropriate physics terminology. / Events are neither numbered nor explained.