Rube Goldberg Machine
Info
A Rube Goldberg machine is a machine consisting of various steps to get a simple task done. The theme for our Rube Goldberg machine was arcade. Although at first it was Southern West theme, but our team decided to change it to arcade halfway through the project time given. We worked in a group of 4, we equally distributed the work and made sure everyone worked on different pieces in groups of 2 or by yourself to get more of the work done. Our Rube Goldberg machine has 10 Steps, and we had 10 days to work on it in class. There are 5 simple machines in our Rube Goldberg machine. The simple machines in our project is the pulley, inclined planes, wedge, lever, wheel and axle. Down below is an explanation of the steps in our Rube Goldberg machine. There are 3 principles of design which are Emphasis, Contrast, and Unity. Emphasis is where the white golf ball rolls down inclined plane with a black background. Contrast from the dark background to the light blue background. Unity is where all the edges have pink on the side and they all have something relating to theme arcade.
Steps with Physics
Our first step was to drop the 100 gram weight with a string attached to it down on a board with a slope of 0. There was a hole where the string went through. The weight at bottom of board with a certain distance from the string’s knot, which when dropped the knot is stopped by the hole in board. That stops the weight from dropping all the way down. The string had a knot which stops the weight from falling all the way down. Which then causes the board to tilt to a slope of -1/8. The second step is the ball rolling after the board tilts, hitting another ball which was stopped by a dent in the wood until the ball pushes it over. Then the ball travels to a speed of .27m/ .3s= .9 m/s down the slope. The third step is the ball rolling down a slope of 48 cm (.48 m) long in .9 seconds. Meaning that it traveled at a speed of .53 m/s. Step 4 is where the golf ball falls a distance of of 20 cm (.2m) into a hoop within .18 seconds. Meaning the velocity/ speed is 1.11 m/s. The ball falling on the lever then goes down and the other end goes up knocking a yellow and black marble which is step 5. The marble which is is pushed over by the lever rolls .45m in 1.14 seconds. This means the speed/ velocity of the marble is 0.39 m/s. Step 6 is where the marble drops down .66m in .65 seconds meaning that the speed was 1.01 m/s. Step 7 is where the yellow and black ball hits the bottom platform/ lever, exerting a force of 32.209N. Causing the other side of the lever to go up with a wedge. Step 8 is the platform’s spike/ wedge goes upwards at a speed of 0.56 m/s. There is a metal marble in between two inclined planes. Step 9 is the wedge from the lever hitting the metal marble causing it to roll over down the inclined plane on the right with a velocity of 0.27 m/s. The last step is the metal ball rolling down onto a pulley system and raising a "Game Over" sign. The pulley has a mechanical advantage of 1.
Definition of Physics
-Velocity: Rate of distance covered in one/ a direction. It would be v=dt. The unit for it would be m/s. The velocity on the Rube Goldberg machine when the marbles traveled/ roll down the inclined planes.
-Acceleration: Rate of change in velocity which is speeding up or slowing down. It would be a=vt. Unit for it would be m/s^2. The acceleration on the Rube Goldberg machine is when the marbles roll down an inclined plane.
-Force: Push or pull on an object. The formula would be F=ma. “F” means Force, “m” means mass, and “a” means acceleration. It would be measured in Newtons. The force in our Rube Goldberg machine would be the ball falling on lever, lever pushing a ball to roll down an inclined plane, marble hitting another marble, and the pulley shows force pulling the “Game Over” sign up.
-Kinetic Energy: Energy due to motion. Formula is KE=12mv^2. The unit for it is Joules. The kinetic energy in our Rube Goldberg machine is where the marble hits the other marble.
-Real Mechanical Advantage: How much easier (less force) a tool makes a task. The formula would be MA real=dist. load/dist. effort or MA real=Force without machine/ Force with machine. The unit is none, it is a ratio. The Mechanical Advantage Real on our Rube Goldberg machine is the pulley system.
Reflection
I was more uncertain of what I was doing on this project, I doubted myself a lot. Now that I look back at it I should have taken more control. The things I decided not to do, I regret not managing the courage to do it. I was correct on the stuff I wanted to do which I figured after it was over. I should have given myself the chance to make a mistake to learn from it than decide not to try at all. I really regret that, at least in the end I did end up helping and had so much confidence when I was presenting. Which is good because I hardly have any confidence, so in the end I did improve on confidence. I will help out more for the next project. I was always uncertain if I should do certain stuff in constructing or not. I did help, I just feel I could have helped out more. I was just a bit uncertain before I did something. I somehow managed to convince myself a few times to not do it. Later, I realize I should have tried.
I also feel like I should have supported what I did. I would be working on something and when someone would ask if we are going to add it I would say how it is productive. My voice is not loud so if they did not hear me, I tend to decide that what I am doing is probably not productive and not support my actions all the way so then I do something else. Later I realized it was correct and I should have just explained and not been too shy. I should take more leadership, speak up more.
Video of our Rube Goldberg Machine working below: