Glencoe Physical Science

Unit 1: Energy and Motion

Unit Project 3

Introduction:

Rube Goldberg machines utilize various motions in order to complete simple tasks in complicated ways. Have students think of simple, everyday activities or actions and imagine ways to make the tasks more complicated. They will then construct models of their machines or create detailed diagrams showing how the parts work together. Display or demonstrate the machines as a class.

Time:

2 class periods for design and construction, 1 class period for demonstrations

Alternative:

Divide the class in half and assign the same task to both groups. Challenge them to see which group can create a Rube Goldberg machine with the greatest number of steps to perform the task.

Resources:

Rube Goldberg Cartoons

http://www.mousetrapcontraptions.com/rube-cartoons-2.html

http://www.rubegoldberg.com/

Rube Goldberg Machines

http://www.rube-goldberg.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine

http://www.mousetrapcontraptions.com/cool-machines-3.html

http://www.jacobshwirtz.com/RubeGoldberg/index.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Homemade-Rube-Goldberg-Machine