Simple Machines

Rube Goldberg Machine

This a group project due on Wednesday, December 2nd. You will have to spend time outside of
class building and researching your project. Your grade will come from the machine itself, your
participation in creating it, and the instruction manual. This project counts as 2 test grades. The
rules for building the machine and the rubric that will be used to grade it is provided below. To
submit your project you will need to video it and submit it to me on Canvas. You could also
submit it on a CD or flash drive. It should be less than 3 minutes long. If you wish, you may do
the project alone. PLEASE do not buy any materials. The project is to be made from things you
are no longer using or intend to throw away. My email is: breed@mcssk12.org
Rube Goldberg Machine Rules & Regulations
1. The machine must complete the task it is designed to do, it must either;
Break an egg, pop a balloon, close a door, or smash a grape
2. Once you start the machine you cannot touch it or add any force to it
3. The machine must use at least 6 simple machines: one must be an inclined plane, one
must be a pulley and one must be a lever.
4. You may choose machines for the other 3 steps, but they must all be different.
5. There is no maximum number of steps
6. You may not connect 2 identical machines in a row- they will count as 1
7. A car moving down a ramp counts as one
8. No live animals may be used in the machine.
9. No objects that can pose a danger are allowed (knives, guns, fire, etc.)
10. The machine must be safe to the satisfaction of the teacher. I must approve any
questionable items prior to completion.
11. You may work alone or with a partner. If you include a third person you must add 4
more simple machines to your set-up
12. There must also be an instruction manual with the following:
a. Title page which includes an eye-catching cover
b. Explanation of what the machine does and how it should work
c. Description of the simple machines used within the project including a
detailed sketch of the device with the machines identified
d. Calculate the mechanical advantage of at least one machine (show all work)
e. A troubleshooting section- what to do if the machined doesnt work
e. Citations for all research (must have 3 sources)

Instruction Manual Rubric- Counts as a 100 point test grade

Grade yourself in the following areas concerning your project. Look at the point values for each category and
use a scale with 0 being you did not do it at all and the maximum number of points for doing it perfectly.
Self
Teacher
On time (due Dec. 2, 2015)
(10 points)
Title Page
(10 points)
Title of Machine
Each group members name
Teacher name, period and date
Machine Description
(60 points)
Purpose of machine
Explanation of how it should work (step by step)
Sketch of machine (can be hand drawn)
4 simple Machines correctly identified in project
Trouble shooting information (what could/did go wrong and corrections)
Calculated mechanical advantage (show all numbers)
Overall Structure of Report
(10 points)
Grammar and spelling are correct
Neat, well done and easy to read
Mostly typed (not handwritten)
Attractive and creative
Works Cited Page (websites or books used in research)
(10 points)
3 minimum

_____

_____

_____
_____
_____

_____
_____
_____

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

_____
_____
_____
_____

_____
_____
_____
_____

_____

_____

Machine Rubric- Counts as a 100 point test grade

Grade yourself in the following areas concerning your project. Look at the point values for each category and
use a scale with 0 being you did not do it at all and the maximum number of points for doing it perfectly.
Self
Teacher
On time (due Dec. 2, 2015)

(10 points)

_____

_____

Accomplishes Its Purpose

Breaks egg, smashes grape, closes door OR pops balloon

(5 point)

_____

_____

Has the Correct Number of Steps

6 for one or two people, 10 for three people

(30points)

_____

_____

Has the Correct Kind of Simple Machines

1 inclined plane, 1 pulley, 1 lever
3 more machines, different from the others

(40 points)

_____

_____

Video is well done and easy to understand

Each team member must be in the video

(15 points)

_____

_____