Rube Goldberg Machines: A Creative Challenge

If you had to solve the problem of opening a book using a Rube Goldberg machine, which simple machines would you choose and how would you arrange them to make sure the book opens at the end?

• Use a rolling ball to hit a lever, which pulls a string attached to the book cover, opening it.

• Place the book on the table and wait.

• Use a fan to blow the book open.

• Ask someone to open the book.

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A Rube Goldberg machine uses a series of dominoes to knock over a cup. If you want to make the machine more reliable, what changes would you plan and what evidence would you collect to show your changes work?

• Space the dominoes evenly and test the setup several times to make sure each domino hits the next one.

• Place the dominoes randomly and hope for the best.

• Use only one domino.

• Remove the cup.

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Think about the physics in everyday machines. If you wanted to use a wheel and axle in your Rube Goldberg machine to move an object, how would you plan its use and explain why it is effective?

• Attach the object to the wheel, and when the axle turns, the object moves easily because the wheel and axle reduce friction.

• Place the object on top of the wheel and hope it moves.

• Use the wheel as a decoration.

• Ignore the wheel and push the object by hand.

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You are given the task to design a Rube Goldberg machine that uses at least three different simple machines to pop a balloon. Describe your plan and explain how each machine helps achieve the goal.

• Use an inclined plane to roll a ball, which hits a lever, which pulls a string attached to a sharp pin that pops the balloon.

• Place the balloon on the table and wait.

• Use only a pin.

• Blow air at the balloon.

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Rube Goldberg’s inventions often solve problems in funny ways. If you had to design a machine to feed a pet, what steps would you plan using simple machines, and how would you make sure the food ends up in the bowl?

• A marble rolls down an inclined plane, hits a lever, which tips a cup of food into the bowl. Test the machine to make sure the food lands in the bowl every time.

• Place the food next to the bowl. Have a ball to hit the lever to open the cage, so the dog can run through a maze to go through an opening to go outside and forage through the woods for food.

• Wait for the pet to find the food.

• Use a fan to blow the food.

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