Mini Trebuchet
Electric Magnetic Project
Rube Goldberg Reflection
During the making of the Rube Goldberg, machine our group included three different simple machines. The first machine used a wedge to start the Rube. To activate this we had a block with a rubber-band that hit a catapult that was attached a wood piece pull that would throw a ball into a cup. The second step was an incline plane that guided the marble into a ramp. The third step demonstrated a wheel and axle with a lever. A marble from the ramp would hit the hammer; that was attached to the wall with a wheel and axle. The hammer would then hit another marble demonstrating a lever. With all these machines the rube demonstrated three physics, potential energy, kinetic energy, and inertia. It demonstrated potential energy by the hammer hitting a different marble which has potential energy. For kinetic energy we put a toy car on top of the race track and when a marble hit it right before the end the kinetic energy was the highest. Last but not least, we demonstrated the law of inertia with the Newtons cradle. This was demonstrated by the car hitting the band-aid causing it to move.
Theoretically, if I were to collect data on how far the 7 gram steel ball dropped off the hammer from 50 centimeters into a catcher on a pulley, I would calculate how much potential energy there is using the formula PE(joules)=mgh m=mass(kilograms) g=gravity(9.81m/s^2) h=height. So PE=0.007*50*9.81m/s^2 which ends up being a force of 33.614 joules. My steel ball lands in the catcher at a velocity of 45cm/s. and I want to find out how much kinetic energy it has. To figure this out I use the formula KE(joules)=(1/2)mv^2 m=mass(kg) v=velocity (m/s). So KE=(1/2)((.007*45^2)) would give you .00070875 joules of kinetic energy.
Before making the rube the first thing my group did was draw out a plan to make sure we had an idea to build everything. Secondly we made a materials list that had everything we would need for our plan even if it changed. The third step was to make a base or setting to put the steps on. For that we used a 4x3 board. The final step we started putting steps on the board until all steps were on. During this phase, I personally grew in the critical thinking phase. At about halfway through building the rube we realized that there wasn't enough time to put all of the steps on. We soon sat back to our plan and re-thought our ideas to make it work better. This was a critical thinking part because multiple steps had to become completely different ideas. While critical thinking was a huge growing point for me I reflect on my strengths during the Rube Goldberg project and decide that creativity was a huge strength I had. While my steps weren't at the beginning or end, it took a lot of creativity to think of a step that could be activated with the person before me; and could also activate the step after mine. My steps were relatively easy because they were both ramps but it had a large impact on the overall design.
Theoretically, if I were to collect data on how far the 7 gram steel ball dropped off the hammer from 50 centimeters into a catcher on a pulley, I would calculate how much potential energy there is using the formula PE(joules)=mgh m=mass(kilograms) g=gravity(9.81m/s^2) h=height. So PE=0.007*50*9.81m/s^2 which ends up being a force of 33.614 joules. My steel ball lands in the catcher at a velocity of 45cm/s. and I want to find out how much kinetic energy it has. To figure this out I use the formula KE(joules)=(1/2)mv^2 m=mass(kg) v=velocity (m/s). So KE=(1/2)((.007*45^2)) would give you .00070875 joules of kinetic energy.
Before making the rube the first thing my group did was draw out a plan to make sure we had an idea to build everything. Secondly we made a materials list that had everything we would need for our plan even if it changed. The third step was to make a base or setting to put the steps on. For that we used a 4x3 board. The final step we started putting steps on the board until all steps were on. During this phase, I personally grew in the critical thinking phase. At about halfway through building the rube we realized that there wasn't enough time to put all of the steps on. We soon sat back to our plan and re-thought our ideas to make it work better. This was a critical thinking part because multiple steps had to become completely different ideas. While critical thinking was a huge growing point for me I reflect on my strengths during the Rube Goldberg project and decide that creativity was a huge strength I had. While my steps weren't at the beginning or end, it took a lot of creativity to think of a step that could be activated with the person before me; and could also activate the step after mine. My steps were relatively easy because they were both ramps but it had a large impact on the overall design.