2006 Rube Goldberg Contest

Event Website

2006 Rube Goldberg Contest

Event Coordinator

Mr. Jason Hoffman

Event Context

Date

02/27/2006

Description

This competition provided an opportunity for several student teams to utilize and reinforce the mechanical principles they have learned in Mr. Hoffman's Physics class. The goal of this assignment was to design and build a machine that sharpens a new, standard size pencil in a minimum of 10 steps.

This assignment is based on the national Rube Goldberg contest. Rube Goldberg was a popular cartoonist with a degree in engineering who drew complicated machines that accomplished very simple tasks. A Rube Goldberg machine is an exceedingly complex apparatus that performs a very simple task in a very indirect and convoluted way.

The machine designed by Jaime and Dan accomplished the goal by carrying out the following sequence of steps:

1. crank, ball raises over wall
2. ball hits domino
3. domino sets off mousetrap
4. mousetrap pulls out earplug (from neck of funnel)
5. water spins wheel
6. ball sets off mousetrap
7. mousetrap depresses lever
8. lever closes scissors
9. scissors cut string
10. pencil drops (into electric sharpener) and sharpens

Event Photos

Jaime and Dan assemble their machine

A closeup of Jaime's and Dan's machine

Jaime and Dan answer questions from the audience

Arnold makes some very delicate final adjustments

Michael sets his team's machine into motion as Robert looks on

A closeup of the string-cutting device designed by Arnold and Michael

Wesley and Robert begin to assemble their machine

Chris, Wesley, and Robert complete their setup

Wesley explains his team's machine to Mr. Hoffman