Rube Goldberg Design Brief

From the children’s game Mousetrap, to the convoluted breakfast-making machine in the opening scene
of Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, to a Honda commercial in which a two- minute chain reaction involving
rolling, bumping, and swinging car parts triggers the ignition of a new car, inventions inspired by the work
of cartoonist Rube Goldberg have permeated American pop culture. An artist whose illustrations
appeared in major newspapers across the United States throughout the first half of the 20th century,
Rube Goldberg drew intricate machines that offered exceedingly complex methods to achieve everyday
tasks such as wiping one’s mouth with a napkin or scratching one’s back. Defined by Webster’s Dictionary
as “accomplishing by complex means what seemingly could be done simply ,” his illustrations combine
simple machines and everyday objects into elaborate schemes. A Rube Goldberg contraption – an
elaborate set of arms, wheels, gears, handles, cups and rods, put in motion by balls, canary cages, pails,
boots, bathtubs, paddles and live animals – takes a simple task and makes it extraordinarily complicated.
While Rube’s machines lived only in his illustrations, they have inspired countless sculptors, artists,
students, and inventors to create physical models of these complex contraptions.

The Challenge:

Design and build a device that will accomplish a simple task with only one input from you (you may start
it but it must finish on its own). A simple task could be something like one of the following: feed a pet
(pour food into a dish), turn on a light switch, crack an egg, pop a balloon, fill up a cup with water or ring
a bell. Before building your device you will need to get approval from me regarding the simple task you
have chosen. If you do not submit an idea before Spring Break at the end of the day on Thursday (4.1.21),
your task will be to raise a flag.

Materials:

You may use almost any object that you can find in your design EXCEPT chemicals, flammable items, and
animals. Some ideas for cheap materials are: marbles, insulation tubing for pipes, rope, string, paper clips,
springs, popsicle sticks, weights (fishing), twist ties, rubber bands, glue, construction paper, wind-up toys,
hobby motors, gears, pulleys, dominoes, toy cars and batteries, and see-saws. Look around and see what
you can find. More creative use of materials will get extra credit!
Constraints:

Your machine needs to apply all the concepts we have covered and will be covering about machines, work,
and mechanical advantage. It must conform to the following guidelines:

● Designed such that a single action starts the machine, such as pressing a button, letting go of a
marble, cutting a string, removing a barrier, etc. No other additional human actions are allowed
once your machine has started.
● Successfully and consistently is able to repeat the task.
● Your machine must have a minimum running time of 15 seconds.
● Your machine must have at least 6 steps. (6 transfers of energy)
● Your machine must have at least 3 simple machines.
● Your machine must have a theme. Examples done in the past include: The Wizard of Oz, Harry
Potter, Star Trek, Sports.
● Your theme must be evident throughout your design. Simply printing out pictures or painting your
project will not suffice. If you want one idea for inspiration visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOJ5EJpNxBM
● Require only one input (you cannot interfere with it once you have set it in motion).
● You may not use more than two parts of the game “Mousetrap” or similar toy.
● Points will be deducted if there is not diversity in your building materials (for example, your entire
machine should not be built entirely from Legos.)

Requirements:
● Accompanying your machine should be an engineering sketch that labels where the simple
machines and where any and all transfers of energy are. Arrows should mark each of these and
the travel path of energy. This drawing should also include calculations showing the mechanical
advantage of each transfer and the total IMA for the machine. In order to calculate the mechanical
advantage, you will need to take measurements. Include those measurements with your
documentation. Your documentation should also include descriptions of each task. (Transfer of
energy.)
● You will also need to submit a video of your machine in action. The more creative you get with
your video, the better!
 Rube Goldberg Rubric

4 3 2 1

Excellent Good Poor Needs

Improvement

Energy Includes 6 energy Includes at least 5 Includes at least 2 Does not include
Transformations transformations. energy energy any energy
transformations. transformations. transformations.

Includes at least 3 Includes at least 3 Includes at least 3 Less than 3 simple

different simple simple machines. simple machines. machines.
Simple Machines machines. Each Each machine is used Some machines are
machine is used as a as a true simple not used as true
true, different simple machine, but some simple machines.
machine. machines may
repeat.

Includes at least 6 Includes at least 6 Includes at least 6 Includes less than 6

Machine Process distinct and separate steps to accomplish steps to accomplish steps to accomplish
steps to accomplish the tasks, but a few the tasks, but many the tasks.
the tasks. steps seem to blend steps seem to
together. blend together.

Machine works Machine works Machine Machine does not

Reliability reliably every time reliably, but requires frequently does really work.
and does not require human intervention not work.
human intervention. at some point.

Machine has a name Machine has a name Has inappropriate Has inappropriate
Introduction and the steps of the and the steps of the name or the steps name and the steps
machine are machine are not of the machine are of the machine are
explained in the clearly explained in not explained in not explained in the
documentation. the documentation. the documentation.
documentation.

Rube Goldberg A Rube Goldberg

Creativity Master! A novel and Apprentice! A straightforward A straightforward
amusing idea! Interesting, but no implementation. implementation.
“wows!”
 Picture and written Picture and written Picture and written
explanation are well explanation are explanation are Missing written
Written written, amusing and included and follows included but does explanation and/or
Explanation follows Rube Rube Goldberg’s not follow Rube picture.
Goldberg’s format. format. Goldberg’s format.