San Carlos University of Guatemala

Faculty of Engineering
School of Sciences
Technical language
Inga. Soraya Martinez
Final project
Guatemala. April 22st 2019

GOLDBERG MACHINE

Andres Enrique Castañeda Hernandez 201903405

Celeste Flor de María Tas Alay 201902782
Megan Marie Rodríguez García 201903583
Dulce María Reyes Rodríguez 201904054
María Reneé Miralda Orozco 201906059
 INTRODUCTION

The Goldberg machine is a fairly elaborate device, based on the 2nd Newton law (of action and

reaction) in which, the previously elaborated machine performs a simple task indirectly,

performing other intermediate actions before arriving to perform the final task.

Are named in honor of Reuben Lucius Goldberg (Rube Goldberg), an engineer who began to

draw these contraptions in the fictional cartoons vignettes.

These machines usually have gears or very convoluted and surreal parts for what would be their

final work. To consider yourself a machine of this type, you must at least have 5 steps until you

achieve your goal.

The Goldberg machine mixes different branches of science, among the most important physics,

mechanics and mathematics.

 OBJECTIVES

Overall objective:

Investigate and learn about the sciences seen in class through a tangible product in which the
application of these in real life can be observed

Specific objectives:

1. Apply the sciences seen in class

2. Understand the importance of science in real life

3. Understand in a better way the mathematics, mechanics, and physics

4. Create a product where the chosen sciences are applied.

5. Learn about how to do an oral presentation

 RUBE GOLDBERG MACHINE

A Rube Goldberg Machine is too sophisticated a device that performs a very simple task in a

deliberately indirect and elaborate way, usually by using a chain reaction. The first occurrence of

this term was in the Webster's Third New International Dictionary, defined as: "carry out

something, in an extremely complex redundant manner, that could really or apparently be done

in a simple way". The expression has been dated as originating in the USA. UU around 1930, to

describe the illustrations of "absurd connected machines" by Rube Goldberg. (Hom, 2018)

These machines usually have gears or very convoluted and surreal parts for what would be their

final work. To consider yourself a machine of this type, you must at least take 10 steps to achieve

your goal. (Hom, 2018)

 MECHANICS

Mechanics is the branch of physics that describes the movement of bodies, and their evolution in

time, under the action of forces. The set of disciplines that groups conventional mechanics is

very broad and it is possible to group them in three main blocks:

Classical mechanics: it is subdivided into kinematics, which deals with the movement of bodies

without considering the causes that originate it, and dynamics, which describes the movement by

studying the causes of its origin.

Unconventional mechanics, which includes relativistic and quantum effects, and is discussed

later in the article.

Dugas(2014) states: "Mechanics is a physical science, since it studies physical phenomena.

However, while some relate it to mathematics, others relate it to engineering. Both points of view

are partially justified since, although mechanics is the basis for most of the classical engineering

sciences, it is not as empirical in character as these and, by contrast, by its rigor and deductive

reasoning, it seems more to mathematics. An application of coupled mechanics simulation is

molecular dynamics (p.21)”

Sub disciplines of mechanics

Classical mechanics

It includes both the mechanics of the rigid solid and the mechanics of the particle and other

mechanical systems with a finite number of degrees of freedom. There are three different

formulations, which differ in the degree of formalization. Dugas (2014) states:

 Newtonian mechanics, which gave raise to other disciplines and which is divided into the

study of balance (Static), the description of movement (kinematics) and the study of

forces (dynamics).

 Lagrangian mechanics, a very powerful mathematical formulation of Newtonian

mechanics based on the principle of least action, which uses the formalism of

differentiable manifolds, specifically the configuration space and phasic space.

 Hamiltonian mechanics, another formulation of classical mechanics, which uses the

formalism of simplistic varieties.

Applied to three-dimensional Euclidean space and inertial reference systems, the three

formulations are basically equivalent. (p.25)

Continuous media mechanics

It deals with extensive material bodies deformable and that cannot be treated as systems with a

finite number of degrees of freedom. This part of the mechanics deals in turn with:

 The mechanics of deformable solids, which considers the phenomena of elasticity,

plasticity, viscoelasticity, etc.

  Fluid mechanics, which includes a set of partial theories such as hydraulics, hydrostatic

or fluid-static and hydrodynamics) or fluid dynamics. Within the study of flows, a

distinction is made between compressible flow and incompressible flow. If you attend to

the fluids according to their constitutive equation, you have perfect fluids, Newtonian

fluids and non-Newtonian fluids.

 Acoustics, classical wave mechanics, etc.

Relativistic mechanics

Relativistic Mechanics or Theory of Relativity includes:

 The Theory of Special Relativity, which adequately describes the classic behavior of

bodies moving at high speeds in a flat (non-curved) space-time.

 The General Theory of Relativity, which generalizes the previous one by describing the

movement in curved spaces-time, as well as encompassing a relativistic theory of

gravitation that generalizes Newton's theory of gravitation. (Berggren, 2017)

Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics deals with:

 The Physics of particles, their movement, structure, interaction and transformations.

 Nuclear Physics, specialization of particle physics to atomic nuclei.

 Atomic physics, which deals with atomic and molecular structure.

 The Physics of condensed matter, which is dedicated to the study of gases, solids and

liquids from the perspective of how their properties emerge from the properties of the

molecules that form them. (Lokanathan, 2004)

 MATHEMATICS

What is mathematics?

Math is a science that works with shapes, quantity. We can find math everywhere that surround

us, and everything we do. In daily basis we can find it in smart devices, architecture, art,

shopping (money), engineering, sports, nature, etc.

Mathematics is not about answers, it's about processes.

All mathematical systems (for example, Euclidean geometry) are combinations of sets of axioms

and of theorems that can be logically deduced from the axioms. (Khan Academy, 2012) Inquiries

into the logical and philosophical basis of mathematics reduce to questions of whether the

axioms of a given system ensure its completeness and its consistency.

Since the beginning of life or history mathematics has been an important forefront of every

civilization, from primitive cultures to civilized societies. The more complex a society, the more

complex the mathematical needs. Has evolved from elemental practices of counting, measuring,

and describing the shapes of objects. It deals with logical reasoning and quantitative calculation.
History of mathematics

Civilizations from China, India, Egypt, Central America and Mesopotamia contributed to

mathematics as we know it today. The history of Mesopotamian and Egyptian mathematics is

based on the extant original documents written by scribes.

The Sumerians were the first to develop a counting system. They developed arithmetic, which

includes basic operations, multiplication, fractions and square roots. The Sumerians’ system

passed through the Akkadian Empire to the Babylonians around 300 B.C.

The older Sumerian system of numerals followed an additive decimal (base-10) principle similar

to that of the Egyptians. But the Old Babylonian system converted this into a place-value system

with the base of 60.

Six hundred years later, in America, the Mayans developed elaborate calendar systems and were

skilled astronomers. And they developed the concept of zero. (Class, 2010)

Development of geometry and algebra

As civilizations developed, mathematicians began to work with geometry, which computes areas

and volumes to make angular measurements. (Stewart & Redlin, 2011)Geometry has many

practical applications from everything used in home construction to fashion and interior design.

Geometry went hand in hand with algebra, invented in the ninth century by a Persian

mathematician, Mohammed ibn-Musa al-Khowarizmi. He also developed quick methods for

multiplying and diving numbers, which are known as algorithms.

In the Book of Restoring and Balancing, he provided a systematic introduction to algebra,

including a theory of quadratic equations.

Algebra offered civilizations a way to divide inheritances and allocate resources. The study of

algebra meant mathematicians were solving linear equations and systems, as well as quadratics,

and delving into positive and negative solutions.

Mathematicians in ancient times also began to look at number theory with origins in the

construction of shape. Number theory looks at figurate numbers, the characterization of numbers,

and theorems.

Development of calculus

In the 17th century, Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz independently developed the

foundations for calculus. The essential insight of Newton and Leibniz was to use Cartesian

algebra to synthesize the earlier results and to develop algorithms that could be applied

uniformly to a wide class of problems. Calculus development went through three periods:

anticipation, development and rigorization.

In the anticipation stage, mathematicians were attempting to use techniques that involved infinite

processes to find areas under curves or maximize certain qualities. In the development stage,

Newton and Leibniz brought these techniques together through the derivative and integral.

Though their methods were not always logically, mathematicians in the 18th century took on the

rigorization stage, and were able to justify them and create the final stage of calculus. Today, we

define the derivative and integral in terms of limits.

The calculus developed from techniques to solve two types of problems, the determination of

areas and volumes and the calculation of tangents to curves. (Brown, 2013)
 PHYSICS

Science that deals with the structure of matter and the interactions between the fundamental

constituents of the observable universe. Is concerned with all aspects of nature on both the

macroscopic and submicroscopic levels. In which matter and energy are studied both separately

and in combination with one another.

Its scope of study encompasses not only the behavior of objects under the action of given forces

but also the nature and origin of gravitational, electromagnetic, and nuclear force fields. Its

ultimate objective is the formulation of a few comprehensive principles that bring together and

explain all such disparate phenomena. (Walden, 2012)

Until rather recent times physics and natural philosophy were used interchangeably for the

science whose aim is the discovery and formulation of the fundamental laws of nature. Physics

can, at base, be defined as the science of matter, motion, and energy.

Because physics utilizes elements of other branches of sciences, biology and chemistry for

example, it has the reputation of being more complicated than other sciences.
 BRANCHES OR FIELDS OF CLASSICAL AND MODERN PHYSICS

 Mechanics: the study of the motion of objects under the action of given forces. It

consists of kinematics, the description of motion, and dynamics, the study of the action of

forces in producing either motion or static equilibrium.

 The study of gravitation: Newton’s gravitational law states that every material particle

in the universe attracts every other one with a force that acts along the line joining them

and whose strength is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely

proportional to the square of their separation. (Raymond, 2016)

 The study of heat, thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics: Heat is a form of

internal energy associated with the random motion of the molecular constituents of matter

or with radiation. The formal study of states of matter at (or near) thermal equilibrium is

called thermodynamics; it is capable of analyzing a large variety of thermal systems

without considering their detailed microstructures.

 The study of electricity and magnetism: Particles with electric charge interact by an

electric force, while charged particles in motion produce and respond to magnetic forces

as well.

 Optics: the part that deals with the tracing of light rays is known as geometrical optics,

while the part that treats the distinctive wave phenomena of light is called physical optics.

And quantum optics, which is concerned with the theory and application of the laser, a

device that produces an intense coherent beam of unidirectional radiation useful for many

applications.

 Atomic and chemical physics: study the most important attributes of matter (not

excluding biologic matter) that are encountered in normal experience—namely, those that
 depend almost entirely on the outer parts of the electronic structure of atoms. Only the

mass of the atomic nucleus and its charge, which is equal to the total charge of the

electrons in the neutral atom, affect the chemical and physical properties of matter.

 Nuclear physics: This branch of physics deals with the structure of the atomic nucleus

and the radiation from unstable nuclei. Like excited atoms, unstable radioactive nuclei

(either naturally occurring or artificially produced) can emit electromagnetic radiation.

 Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Physics: Study of science where the smallest

discrete values, or quanta, of matter and energy become relevant. (Lokanathan, 2004)
 CONCLUSIONS

 In the Goldberg machine, different sciences can be applied, among them mathematics,

physics and mechanics.

 It was shown that through chain reactions very simple tasks can be performed in a very

complex way.

 Different branches of each selected sciences were used to understand them in a better

way.

 The Goldberg machine can be applied as a method of solving a problem in everyday life.
 REFERENCES

Berggren, G. (2017). Britannica. Retrieved from Britannica:

https://www.britannica.com/science/mathemathics
Brown, T. &. (2013). Britannica. Retrieved from Britannica:
https://www.britannica.com/science/physics
Class, U. (2010). ProScience. Retrieved from ProScience:
https://www.universalclass.com/articles/science/what-is-physics-and-why-is-important-
html
Hom, E. (2018). Live Science. Retrieved from Live Science:
https://www.livescience.com/38936-mathemathics.html
Khan Academy. (2012). Retrieved from Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/math
Lokanathan, S. (2004). Quantum Mechanics: Theory and Applications. London: Kluwer
Academic Publishers.
Raymond. (2016). PhysicsLab. Retrieved from PhysicsLab:
https://www.teacherphysics.blogspot.com/2016/08/physics.html
Stewart, & Redlin. (2011). College Algebra(Concepts & Context). CENGAGE Learning.
Walden, A. (2012). An Introduction to the study of Physics. Prentice Hall.