Name: ________________________________
Period: _____
Rube Goldberg Machine
Use your knowledge of forces and motion to design and build a working Rube Goldberg machine. The object of a Rube
Goldberg machine is to perform a simple task using as many different steps possible in a chain-reaction. The machine
you build should incorporate everyday items and make them work in ways that might seem idiotic or ingenious. Basically,
separate the task into the minimum number of steps you determine are necessary to accomplish the task. Then take each
one of those steps, and think of 10 absurd steps to get there. The more comical the steps are the better.
Your build will consist of three phases:
1. Phase 1- Planning and design due: Monday, April 27th
2. Phase 2- Building and testing due: Monday, May 4th by the end of class
3. Phase 3- Presentation of completed machine: Mon-Wed, May 4th to 6th-- Penalties will be given if
machine needs work.
Guidelines:
1. Use your rubric—make sure you’ve included all of the requirements
2. Teams -- up to 4 people. You may NOT work alone.
3. Your machine should be designed so that a single action starts it and no additional human actions are required.
4. Your machine may be no bigger than 90cm x 90 cm x 90cm
5. Your machine must have a minimum of six connected steps/stages and must include:
a. At least one object must be raised by your machine
b. At least three different simple machines that do WORK (move something up or down).

DEFINITION OF A STEP: A single step is defined as a transfer of energy, or 1 cause
through 1 effect

EXAMPLES OF STEPS:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Ball rolls down a ramp and springs mousetrap.
The mousetrap pulls a string causing scissors to cut.
The scissors cut a cord, causing a weight to fall.
Weight drops on tin foil, causing light bulb to turn on.
6. Your project must have a minimum run time of 6 seconds, and a maximum run time of 5 minutes.
7. Your machine must have a theme.
Examples: favorite movie, animal, a room in your house, something science related, etc…
8. You may not use more than one part of the game “Mousetrap”. Points will be deducted if there is not diversity in
your building materials (example: your entire machine should not be made of dominoes).
9. Up to 5 points extra credit may be awarded for projects that exceed the requirements (at least two additional
steps or extra pizzazz)
Science 8- Project
Materials:
You are responsible for supplying your own materials. You may use almost any object that you can find. You
are limited to “safe” things. Neither firecrackers nor flammable items are permitted. Here are a few ideas:
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Cardboard
Paper clips
Sand
Plastic containers
Wood
String
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Toothpicks
Slingshot/BBs
Toys
Coins
Marbles
Plastic tubing
Magnets
Balloons
Nuts & bolts
Hook/eye bolts
Straws
Rubber bands
Task ideas:
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Drop something
Pop a balloon
Capture something (mouse trap)
Fill a container (with water, cat food,
marbles, etc.)
Pour something
Ring a bell
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Turn off (or on) a switch/light
Shut a door
Lift a Kleenex
Turn a page
Pick something up
Presentation:
1. Have your rubric out when presenting your machine.
2. Be creative in your choice of materials; be sure materials aren’t flammable or hazardous. You will
find that most items needed for your machine come from common materials found around your
house.
3. Keep your machine as compact as possible—there isn’t enough room for each group to have a massive
machine.
4. If your machine fails to work on its first graded attempt, you are allowed one free restart within five
minutes of the first run.
5. Your machine must run smoothly all the way through. You will be penalized 3 points EACH TIME
you interact with the machine after its initial start, for up to 9 points lost.
Science 8- Project
Name: ________________________________________
Period: _____
Rube Goldberg Rubric
Criteria
Possible
Points
Your
Score
PHASE 1—PLANNING AND DESIGN
Detailed brainstorming & plans—written explanation of your machine and the steps it goes
through to complete the task. Can also include annotated diagrams showing ideas
generated.
20
PHASE 2—BUILDING AND TESTING
Collaboration and teamwork during the build
10
Problem solving to resolve problems, mistakes, and challenges
10
Materials management (clean work area, materials not wasted, etc…)
5
Consistently & completely cleaning up in a timely manner
5
PHASE 3—PRESENTATION OF COMPLETED MACHINE
Machine successfully completes task
At least one object raised
Successfully completes task
Machines comprised of 6 or more unique steps
Meets time requirement (6 sec – 5 min)
Has a theme
5
5
20
5
5
3 or more different labeled simple machines (lever, pulley, wheel & axle, inclined plane, screw,
wedge)
Total Points
10
100
PENALTIES AND BONUSES
Project includes at least two extra steps
-3 each
touch
-5 each
skip
Up to +2
Creative display or presentation (pizzazz bonus!!!)
Up to +3
Each touch of machine during presentation run (no more than three touches allowed)
Each skipped step during presentation run
Science 8- Project
Example:
Explanation of machine:
Step
Explanation
1
Wind-up robot released. Toy moves across platform, knocks ball off platform.
2
Ball rolls off platform and falls into cup A. Cup drops down, causing cup B to rise.
3
Cup B knocks left side of the lever up. The lifting up action of the lever causes a marble to roll down into a set of
marble tracks.
4
The marble zigzags down the angled tracks. During the first section of it, the marble rolls through chimes. After
the last ramp, the marble collides with a lighter steel ball.
5
The ball rolls from the angled tracks into a funnel where it falls onto the trigger of a mousetrap.
6
The mousetrap goes off, with its metal arm swinging from left to right.
7
The clothespin is squeezed open by the swinging arm of the mousetrap, releasing a string.
8
The released string causes the weight on the opposite side of the pulley to accelerate downward.
9
The downward accelerating mass collides with the arm of a rotating lever. The bottom lever spins counterclockwise, knocking into the arm of the lever above it. The lever continues to spin, transferring the energy
upward to the top lever.
10
The top lever swings into a domino, beginning another chain of falling dominoes. The final domino collides with
a Newton’s Cradle ball that sits on a platform with the dominoes.
11
The first ball of the Newton’s Cradle swings into the other four balls. The ball farthest right swings forward,
knocking into a domino on the adjacent platform where they start yet another chain of domino collisions,
eventually knocking into a marble.
12
The marble rolls down through the curved tubing into the left side of a lever.
13
The weight of the marble causes the left side of the lever to move down. The upward motion of the right side of
the lever lifts the rod that supports the platform above.
14
The left side of the platform lifts up, causing the car to roll down from left to right, eventually falling into a cup
that is attached to a string pulley system.
15
The car falling into the cup causes the cup to accelerate downward. The string on the opposite side of the pulley
moves up, raising the flag and finishing the machine.
Science 8- Project