Rube Goldberg Machine for physics class in highschool any ideas?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around designing a Rube Goldberg machine for a high school physics class project. Participants explore ideas and requirements for incorporating various physical concepts such as circular motion, projectile motion, rolling motion, gravitational energy, kinetic energy, elastic energy, conservation of momentum, and electric or magnetic fields, all while adhering to specific constraints regarding power and size.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in generating ideas for the machine and lists required physical concepts and constraints.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of showing effort and suggests that the original poster share their current ideas and inspirations from Google Images.
  • A different participant notes that the feasibility of the machine will depend on the materials available, prompting a discussion about potential materials like rubber bands, balloons, and legos.
  • One participant humorously suggests that a true Rube Goldberg device should include whimsical elements like a teakettle and a parrot or monkey, encouraging creativity within functional limits.
  • A later reply mentions that the original poster has already incorporated some elements and only needs to include elastic energy and circular motion to complete their project.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for creativity and the importance of using available materials, but no consensus exists on specific design ideas or approaches for the machine.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not resolved the specifics of how to incorporate all required physical concepts, and there are limitations based on the materials available to the original poster.

Who May Find This Useful

Students working on similar physics projects, educators looking for creative project ideas, and individuals interested in Rube Goldberg machines and their underlying physics principles.

djmax23
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I need to build a rube goldberg machine for physics class and i am stuck on ideas. It must include circular motion, projectile motion, rolling motion, gravitational energy, kinetic energy, elastic energy, conservation of momentum, and electric or magnetic fields. It cannot be powered by more than a 6v battery and must fit in a box 1mx0.75mx1m
 
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djmax23 said:
I need to build a rube goldberg machine for physics class and i am stuck on ideas. It must include circular motion, projectile motion, rolling motion, gravitational energy, kinetic energy, elastic energy, conservation of momentum, and electric or magnetic fields. It cannot be powered by more than a 6v battery and must fit in a box 1mx0.75mx1m

Welcome to the PF.

Per the PF Rules, since this is a school project, you must show a lot of effort on it before we can offer some ideas. What are your ideas so far? When you do a Google Images search, what kind of machines look interesting?
 
Ultimately, the machine will depend upon what materials you have at your disposal. You could make a roller coaster for a marble, but if you don't have anything to make the track out of that wouldn't be feasible for you.

So, what do you have? Rubber bands, matches, lighter, balloons, wire hangers, metal ball bearings, electrical solenoids, action figures, dolls, erector sets, legos, dominoes, etc...
 
Hmmm... a real Rube Goldberg device has to include a teakettle and either a parrot or a monkey (both if possible), but I suppose that you don't have one of those.
The trick is to make it as silly as possible, within the bounds of functionality. Google some of the original cartoons to get a feel for the concept.
 
This might give you some ideas.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
i only need to incorprate elastic energy and circular motion left and i hasve 12 out 20 steps
 

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