Simple Machines PBL

Rube Goldberg Machine
Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist who was famous for his depiction of extremely
complicated inventions designed to complete simple tasks.
A sample description might be a golf ball rolls down a ramp otherwise known as
an inclined plane (action), and lands in a paper cup attached to a pulley with a
counter weight, that is tripped by the movement of the ball (reaction). The pulley
transports the cup with the ball in it to a higher track made of PVC pipe where it
is deposited (action) and rolls to another point where another component moves it
further (reaction)
The objective of this project is to design and build a Rube Goldberg Machine with at least
five (5) distinctive steps.
Rube Goldberg Requirements: (Check off before you turn project in)
Each of these parts of the project are to be turned in and will be graded.
Problem Rube Goldberg addresses what is it going to do? (raise a flag, ring a bell, etc)
Predicted design idea plan for your project (flow chart with descriptions, step-by-step
directions with illustrations, etc)
Action/Reaction table labeled for each step
Conclusions
The Rube Goldberg must be freestanding and supported by its own base.
Electrical energy may not be used.
Open flames are not allowed.
Conclusions: An extended paragraph including the following information

What job is the Rube Goldberg performing?
What you did you have to do to get the Rube Goldberg to work?
What did you learn from the project?
What changes did you have to make to get your project to work?
Action/Reaction Table (check off as you complete the table)

Each step needs to include an action and a reaction. This means that each step in the Rube Goldberg
has 2 parts.
Remember to include a title
Here is an example of the action reaction table:
Feed the Bank Rube Goldberg
Number of Step
Action
Reaction
Release Chitty Chitty car with

mouse driving it
Bumps rubber ball
Ball knocks down the

dominoes
Dominoes trigger the first mousetrap
Mousetrap pulls a string
String starts toy record player which

plays Hickory Dickory Dock
Record player spins the gears
Gears slowly wind the string pulling

up a paperclip
Paper clip detaches from other

paperclip
Breaks the circuit of the

electromagnet
Electromagnet releases mouse

in a car down a ramp
Moving mouse pulls a string
The string pulls a hook (paper

clip)
Hook releases a red parachute man

who flies down an incline
Man pulls another string from

tube that has a pencil at the end
The pulled pencil/string combination

lets a heavy ball drop down a tube
The dropping ball pulls an

attached string up
Attached string makes another

mouse "go up the clock"
10
As mouse moves upward
2 small ball-bearings are released

from under mouse's tail
11
Ball bearings land on

mousetrap
Mousetrap triggers the mechanical

bank
12
Causing a tiny picture of Rube

Goldberg who watches closely
A dog puts the coins into the bank
Number of
Step
Action
Reaction
Name: _______________________________________
Problem the Rube Goldberg is going to solve: ____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Simple machines we will use in the project:
Materials we will need to complete our project:
Possible Website Resources:

http://www.anl.gov/Careers/Education/rube/index.html
http://www.rube-goldberg.com
* http://mousetrapcontraptions.com/cool-machines-3.html
http://outreach.rice.edu/~dgabby/science/simp_mach/
(This one will help with the understanding of simple machines)
Scoring Rubric:
3
Steps to
complete
the task
5 or more steps
are in the
blueprint
Types of
simple
machines
3 or more simple
machines are
used in at least 5
of the steps
Plan
Creativity /
Appearanc
e
2
3 or 4 steps
3 simple
machines
are used in 3
different
steps
Each step is
Each step is
clearly
labeled. The
labeled. Materials design is
used are also
clear and
labeled.
can be easily
understood.
Blueprint is neat, Blueprint is
and grabs the
neat and
viewers attention interesting
to a viewer
___/12points
1012pts=A
89pts=B
67pts=C
5orbelow=Notpassing
2 steps
1 step
1 or 2
simple
machines
are used
No
simple
machines
were
used
Most steps Little or
are
no
labeled. The labeling
design is
is
not clear.
present.
Blueprint is
somewhat
neat, is
lacking in
viewer
appeal
Blueprint
is sloppy
or barely
done

Simple Machines PBL

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Simple Machines PBL

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Rube Goldberg Machine

Conclusions: An extended paragraph including the following information

Action/Reaction Table (check off as you complete the table)

Release Chitty Chitty car with

Bumps rubber ball

Ball knocks down the

Dominoes trigger the first mousetrap

Mousetrap pulls a string

String starts toy record player which

Record player spins the gears

Gears slowly wind the string pulling

Paper clip detaches from other

Breaks the circuit of the

Electromagnet releases mouse

Moving mouse pulls a string

The string pulls a hook (paper

Hook releases a red parachute man

Man pulls another string from

The pulled pencil/string combination

The dropping ball pulls an

Attached string makes another

As mouse moves upward

2 small ball-bearings are released

Ball bearings land on

Mousetrap triggers the mechanical

Causing a tiny picture of Rube

A dog puts the coins into the bank

Simple machines we will use in the project:

Materials we will need to complete our project:

Possible Website Resources:

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