Rube Goldberg Project with Grant F., Sage J., and Howard F.
For this project we built a Rube Goldberg Machine. A Rube Goldberg Machine is a contraption that preforms a series of steps to preform a simple task which in our case was hammering in a nail. Our machine was built with the theme of "construction" in mind. We had a 4 ft. by 4 ft. piece of wood, nails, the appropriate tools to work with, and 15 days to plan, build, and make a presentation for, the rest was up to us. Towards the end of the project, the machine ended up being named "Hammer Down" due to two of the steps that included hammers.
The Run Through:
If everything in the machine works properly, the following is what should happen:
1. Dominoes start manually and topple
2. Dominoes knock over a homemade hammer
3. Homemade hammer hits a ball and gets the ball rolling down an inclined plane
4. Ball falls off the inclined plane and onto a tape measure ramp
5. Ball gets funneled into a cup on a pulley system
6. Block on pulley knocks another ball down an inclined plane
7. Ball goes from the inclined plane into a screw
8. Ball falls out of screw onto a long, shallow inclined plane
9. Ball falls off ramp into a cup on a lever attached to a door-like piece of wood
10. Door-like piece of lifts up releasing a big ball
11. Big ball rolls down another shallow inclined plane
12. Big ball knocks over a hammer which nails in a nail
Concepts:
We used many Physics and Engineering principles during calculating the physics of this Rube Goldberg. Here are some of the major concepts that we used and applied in our calculations and project:
distance(d): The amount of space between two points. Measured primarily in meters(m). We used distance in properly scaling a blueprint we made and for measuring the length of and distance between different steps of the machine
velocity(v): The rate of covered distance in a direction. Measured typically in meters per second(m/s). We did not use velocity calculations in our project but we did use related concept in our calculations: acceleration. Equation: v=Δd/Δt(Δ=change in, t=time)
acceleration(a): The change in velocity. Measured with meters per second squared(m/s^2). We used acceleration to calculate how much the ball changed in velocity on some of the inclined planes. Equation: Δv/Δt
acceleration due to gravity(g): Gravity is a force between objects in proportion to its mass and inversely proportional to the distance between them. Acceleration due to gravity on Earth is always 9.8 m/s^2. We used acceleration due to gravity to calculate theoretical acceleration on one of our inclined planes.
mass(m): The amount of matter in an object or the number and weight of all the atoms in an object. Measured in kilograms. We did not use mass in any of our calculations but we use it to balance the door system.
force(F): The push or pull on an object, usually causes a change in motion. Measured in newtons(N). Force was not used in our calculations but it was used in many steps in the machine as objects collided with each other. Equation: F=ma
work(W): The amount of energy put into something. Measured in joules(J). We used work to explain energy transfers in our Rube Goldberg. Equation: W=fd
gravitational potential energy(PEg): The energy an object has due to its position at a height in a gravitational field. Measured in joules. We used potential energy to explain energy transfers in our machine. Equation: PEg=mgh (h= height)
kinetic energy(KE): The energy an object has due to motion. Measured in joules. We used kinetic energy to describe energy transfers in our Rube Goldberg. Equation: KE=(1/2)mv^2. Equation: W=ΔPEg=ΔKE
mechanical advantage(MA): How much easier(how much less force) a tool makes something and how much further(more distance) you have to push it using the tool. We used mechanical advantage to find how much slower a ball theoretically accelerates and to put force in different places. Equation: MAideal=(deffort/dload) and MAreal=(Fload/Feffort) when effort is input and load is output.
Engineering and physics were not the only concepts we used hen building this project. We also used art concepts, such as rhythm and contrast as well. Here is more specific paragraph on how the art concepts were involved:
When our group was looking to choose a theme for our Rube Goldberg Machine we wanted something that would be practical and relatively simple to express. We chose the theme construction knowing the we would be able to display our theme with pattern and great contrast between the variety of the colors of the tools and the stark pale wood backdrop. The many ramps we have traversing the board gives a rhythm in the layout of our steps and movement as the steps progress downwards to the end goal. Another great purpose the ramps serve, is a way to show leading lines, drawing emphasis on the objects we want to be seen. With all of the principles of art we were able to create a unity within our project. We were able to take the knowledge we learned in class, from Ms. Kats the art teacher, before the allotted build days and then, when we did start to build efficiently but them to good use in our design. Art principles apply to almost anything and everything that you want to build so when applying them to future projects we will have a better understanding each time we work on a different unit.
Reflection:
Overall, this group project went fairly well. I was able to organize and led my group in completing the project. For most of the project, I was instructing my group on what to do and monitoring their progress. I also gained a proficiency with a drill. This was due to me working directly on the Rube Goldberg for much of the project. By the end of the project, what took a whole day to do in the beginning, would only take five minutes.
Though this project went relatively well, not all of it was good and some parts of my performance could be improved. Firstly, I could be more empathetic to my group mates at the end of the project. Towards the end of the completion of the project, I got very overly serious. This caused me to not accept any little deviation from a task which caused me to snap at my group if they stopped working. I will continue trying to stop this habit by not stressing too much at the end of the project. Secondly, I will try to take more aesthetics into account when doing a project. Most of the time I will find them most direct route that produces a working result. This doesn't always produce an item that looks as good as it functions. I will try to improve this by attempting to see more ways to complete the project and take more aesthetics into account.
Video
Now that you have read a lot of writing, here's a video of the machine working completely.