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AT THS |
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| WHAT IS A RUBE GOLDBERG
DEVICE?
Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist who developed a particular style. He would draw images of very complicated machines that ... in the end ... accomplished a simple task. If you are familiar with the game 'Mousetrap,' that's what they are like. |
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| WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO
DO WITH THS?
One of the events at Science Olympiad is called Mission Possible. It basically involves the construction of a Rube Goldberg-type device. Actual Rube Goldberg competitions are done in high schools and colleges around the country. This was selected as the final project for the THS physics course. It is above all an exercise in problem-solving. Also, a good project incorporates many of the principles found throughout the physics course. |
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CONSTRUCTION
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| THE PROJECTS: | |||||||||
| Table 1:
The ball rolls down a ramp and hits a lever, which sets off mouse trap. The trap opens a clothespin which releases a weight. The weight hits a 'seesaw' which launches another golf ball into the air. It is caught in a cone and rolls down a tube to hit a switch. The switch turns on a light which activates a light sensor. This turns on a radio that causes the catepillar to wiggle. This tilts a board so that a steel ball rolls down a ramp. The ball hits 2 wires, making an electrical connection that operates a motor. The motor pulls a string that pulls up on a can of differnet size balls. The balls are dumped into a sorting device that separates them by size. |
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| Table 2:
The light is turned on next to the solar cells, which create enough electricity to operate a motor. The motor lowers a container with steel bearings. The bearings roll down a ramp and into a cup. The cup falls, pulling a string through a couple of pulleys. Another cup at the end of the string starts a ball moving down a ramp. The ball falls into a cup of water, displacing some into a cup below. This tilts a lever and releases a weight onto the start switch of a CD player. The music activiate a sound-activated flower. The movement of the flower releases a weight that pulls a straw down. Water flows out of the straw down a ramp and into a bucket. The bucket pulls down on a string (which goes over a pulley). The string pulls a switch closed, turning on a small set of Christmas lights. |
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| Table 3:
Golf balls are released into a cup, which displaces some water into another cup attached to a string over a pulley. This pulls up a door that releases a ball that rolls down a ramp. The ball closes a switch that activates a motor circuit. The motor pulls on a string. The string passes over a pulley and pulls up on a balloon. The balloon (filled with baking soda) dumps its contents into a flask (filled with vinegar). The ballon inflates, pushing up a lever. This causes a steel bearing to roll down a spiral tube and sets off a mousetrap. The mousetrap pulls a string that passes through a pulley and attaches to the end of a piece of pipe. This causes a ball to roll down the ramp into a cup. The cup moves down and pulls on a string. The string passes over a pulley and pulls on a switch. The switch turns on a light, which shines on solar cells. The cells power a motor that pulls a stop, allowing a steel ball to fall down a tube. The ball causes a clamp to release a string that allows the guillotine to fall ... cutting the |
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SUCCESS!!! 
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almost success. |
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