1. A complex way to perform a simple task.
Rube Goldberg Machine
A complex way to perform a simple task.

2. Rube Goldberg
Rube Goldberg was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author. Best known for his "INVENTION" cartoons that use a string of outlandish tools, people, plants and steps to accomplish everyday simple tasks in the most complicated way, Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Rube Goldberg's drawings point out that people are often overwhelmed by over complicating their lives.

3. Rube Goldberg Machine Tom and Jerry Video Honda Commerial
Rube Golberg gets caught in a revolving door and becomes dizzy enough to dope out an idea to keep you from forgetting to mail your wife's letter.
As you walk past cobbler shop, hook (A) strikes suspended boot (B), causing it to kick football (C) through goal posts (D). Football drops into basket (E) and string (F) tilts sprinkling can, (G) causing water to soak coat tails (H). As coat shrinks, cord (I) opens door (J) of cage, allowing bird (K) to walk out on perch (L) and grab worm (M) which is attached to string (N). This pulls down window shade (O) on which is written, "YOU SAP, MAIL THAT LETTER." A simple way to avoid all this trouble is to marry a wife who can't write.
Tom and Jerry Video
Honda Commerial

4. The Assignment “Purpose”
You will be building a Rube Goldberg machine -- a complicated device that takes many steps to do a simple task
Your Rube Goldberg machine needs to perform a task like :
turning on a light bulb,
pouring a drink, or
sharpening a pencil.
If you would like to choose another task, you need to get it approved before you start planning.

5. The Assignment “Design”
Your Rube Goldberg machine needs to include a minimum of ten steps from start to finish, each step utilizing some principle of physics (physics criteria are described below). The maximum dimensions are 0.85 m x 1.0 m x 1.0 m; the measurement of 0.85m for width or length is especially critical since you are limited by the width of our door!
For safety reasons, you may not use flames or chemicals or other hazardous materials. Your design should not include any offensive materials or themes. Your machine cannot be plugged into an electrical socket to operate, nor can it include live animals.

6. The Assignment “Specifications”
Your Rube Goldberg machine needs to illustrate principles of physics. It needs to use at least seven different principles in mechanics (simple machines), one principle in electricity and magnetism, and must overcome the effect of gravity once. You will need to describe these principles in detail in the written report that you submit along with your project

7. Assignment What makes a good Machine?
The machine works. When it starts, it runs all the way through to completion with no human intervention and completes the required task.
It has a unifying theme. Examples of good themes include the Wizard of Oz, Star Trek, food, farm equipment, gardening, outer space, and politics.
It has clearly visible steps.
No use flammable or other dangerous chemicals.

8. Assignment Operation Myth Busters (Holiday Theme) Star Wars
Japanese Champs
Your Rube Goldberg machine needs to be reliable. In other words, once you start the first step, the remaining steps should follow without any human intervention. In addition, you should be able to reset the machine quickly for another run.

9. Simple Machines
LEVER: a bar resting on a turning point or fulcrum that uses a force to lift a load.
INCLINED PLANE: a slanted surface or ramp that sometimes spirals to use space more efficiently.
WHEEL AND AXLE: a rod that goes through the center of a wheel.
WEDGE: two inclined planes pointed to form a sharp edge.
PULLEY; one or more grooved wheels connected at the edge to a rope.
SCREW: an inclined plane that spirals around a post or wedge.

10. Simple Machines
Wheel and Axle In this machine a wheel or spoke is locked to a central axle so that when one is turned the other must turn. A longer motion at the edge of the wheel is converted to a shorter more powerful motion at the axle. In reverse, a short powerful force at the axle will move the wheel's edge a greater distance.

11. Simple Machines
Pulley System A single pulley simply reverses the direction of a force. When two or more pulleys are connected together, they permit a heavy load to be lifted with less force. The trade- off is that the end of the rope must move a greater distance than the load.

12. Simple Machines
Wedge A wedge converts motion in one direction into a splitting motion that acts at right angles to the blade. Nearly all cutting machines use the wedge. A lifting machine may use a wedge to get under a load.

13. Simple Machines
Screw A screw is a central core with a thread or groove wrapped around it to form a helix. While turning, a screw converts a rotary motion into a forward or backward motion.

14. Simple Machines
Lever A lever is a stiff rod that rotates around a pivot point. Downward motion at one end results in upward motion at the other end. Depending on where the pivot point is located, a lever can multiply either the force applied or the distance over which the force is applied.

15. Simple Machines
Gears Gears are toothed or pegged wheels meshed together to transmit motion and force. In any pair of gears the larger one will rotate more slowly than the smaller one, but will rotate with greater force. Each gear in a series reverses the direction of rotation of the previous gear.

16. Simple Machines
Rack and Pinion A single gear, the pinion, meshes with a sliding toothed rack. This combination converts rotary motion to back and forth motion. Windshield wipers in cars are powered by a rack and pinion mechanism. A small pinion at the base of the wiper meshes with a sliding rack below.

17. Simple Machines
Cam A cam is a wheel with shaped bumps on it. Cams are often connected to rods, levers, or springs. In the gravity trip hammer shown here, the bumps on the turning cam push down on the end of the lever making it raise the hammer again and again.

18. Simple Machines
Chains and Belts A chain or belt connects two separated wheels so that one turns, the other will turn in the same direction.