Rube Goldberg

Introduction
The purpose of this project is to gain a greater understanding of physics concepts by using them to construct a
Rube Goldberg device. By applying the knowledge that has been learned in class to a real-life situation, it
provides the visualisation of the concepts and therefore further consolidating my understanding of these
concepts. The concepts include Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, Inertia, Momentum, and Speed. The goal of the
machine was to pop a balloon. In order to do this a pulley, screw and lever were used, as well as planks of wood
to transport the marbles from each section. The pulley was used because it was the simplest way to ascend the
marble. The screw implemented as it was an efficient way to get the marble directly inside of the lever. There
were two levers in the machine which were utilised to work with the pulley and screw. The lever that worked
with the screw (lever 2) was used to pop the balloon, while the lever that worked with the pulley (lever 1) was
used as a way to set the second marble in motion. All materials were recycled, including the wood, the rope,
and the plastic bottle. The plan changed many times as errors occurred while trying to build the machine.
Originally the pulley was going to be a lever, but the lever couldnt launch the marble far enough. The device
displays many physics concepts (Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, Inertia, Speed, Momentum) within the simple
machines (Pulley, Levers, Screw), speed and kinetic energy are displayed when the marble goes down the wood.
When the wooden plank knocks the second marble into motion, potential energy is displayed. Kinetic energy,
Momentum, and Speed can be seen on the wooden ramps as the marble roles down it. Inertia is displayed on
the plank of wood on the pulley as the plank is waiting to be pulled up or be dropped down.
Simple Machines
The simple machines used in my device were a pulley, a screw, and two levers. These simple
machines helped move the marble from section to section. For the first part of the device, the
marble rolled down the wooden ramps and eventually landed in the pulley. The pulley was made
from string, scraps of wood and wood sticks. The marble pulled one side of the pulley down,
resulting in the plank of wood being pulled up. After the plank of wood was pulled up, it hit over
lever 1, this made the second marble roll down another wooden ramp. As the marble rolled down
the wood, it eventually got shot into the screw and spun around many times. The screw was made
from the top of a plastic bottle and four wooden sticks that were hot glued to the bottle. The second
levers purpose was to push a balloon into a pin. Once the marble came out of the screw, it rolled
into the end of a lever that pushed a balloon upward into a pin, and the balloon popped.

Physics Concepts
The two physics concepts that were demonstrated in the device were collision and change of motion
(acceleration). Collision is when one body exerts force onto another body and creates a change in
motion. The Collison concept was displayed on the pulley when the marble pulled one side of the
pulley up, and the plank of wood hit lever 1, setting the second marble in motion. The plank of wood
on the pulley collided with lever 1 creating the second marble to accelerate and change motion.
Change in motion is when a body either speeds up or slows down (acceleration and deceleration).
The change in motion concept was displayed all over the device as the motion of the marbles were
constantly changing on the wooden ramps, pulley, and screw.

Physics Basics
Potential energy is energy an object has because of its position relative to another object, its
formula is P.E. = mgh (m-mass, g-acceleration, h-height). It is displayed on the pulley, as the stick on
the pulley is waiting to be pulled up and is being held down by gravity. Kinetic Energy is something
that a body possesses by being in motion. The formula for kinetic energy is K.E. = 1/2 m v2. Kinetic
energy is displayed on the whole machine as the marbles are constantly in motion (rolling down the
wood and spinning around the screw). Inertia is the resistance an object has to a change in its state
of motion. The formula for inertia is I = (mr2). Inertia is displayed on the pulley where the wooden
block is waiting to be pulled up by the other side of the pulley. Momentum is the quantity of motion
of a moving body. The formula for momentum is p = m v. Momentum is demonstrated on the
whole machine as the ball is constantly in motion: the wood cut-outs, the pulley, the screw. Speed is
the rate at which an object covers distance. The formula for speed is speed = distance time. The
concept of speed is demonstrated in most parts of the device, the marble rolling down the wood is a
demonstration of speed.
Conclusion
The simple machines inside of my device helped me understand how physics are used in simple
machines. The pulley demonstrated inertia and potential energy. For example, the block of wood on
the pulley was waiting to be pulled up by the other side of the pulley and being held up by the
weight of the other side. The screw demonstrated momentum, speed, and kinetic energy. Because
the marble spun around the screw, it gained momentum and speed. When the marble gained
momentum, it created kinetic energy. If I were to rebuild this, I would put more planning into the
device as many unexpected problems occurred during the build time. Some problems that occurred
include that the sticks could not hold up the wooden ramps and pulley, as they were not strong
enough and caused the frame to collapse. Another problem is that a lever was going to be used
instead of the pulley, but the lever could not launch the marble far enough. I would also measure
the plan to the actual device to make sure that all the components could fit onto the board. Having
correct tools and materials would improve the device a lot as hot glue is not efficient to use for
holding up the wooden ramps and pulley.

Video.mov