The Rube Goldberg Project
Project Description:
A Rube Goldberg is a chain reaction machine that consists of many complicated steps that accomplish a simple task. The Rube Goldberg Project was an eight-week long project where we studied physics concepts and applied them to create our own functioning chain reaction machine. My partner and I made a machine that closed the lid of a waffle maker to cook a waffle. Our Rube Goldberg began when someone tossed a marble into a funnel. Energy transferred through marbles, bouncy balls, dominos and an assortment of other objects to finally close the waffle maker. Each group's Rube Goldberg was required to consist of at least 12 steps, or 12 energy transfers. We were also required to complete four calculations using equations that we had learned to analyze different phenomena. You can see a video of our machine below, along with the calculations.
Project Video:
A Rube Goldberg is a chain reaction machine that consists of many complicated steps that accomplish a simple task. The Rube Goldberg Project was an eight-week long project where we studied physics concepts and applied them to create our own functioning chain reaction machine. My partner and I made a machine that closed the lid of a waffle maker to cook a waffle. Our Rube Goldberg began when someone tossed a marble into a funnel. Energy transferred through marbles, bouncy balls, dominos and an assortment of other objects to finally close the waffle maker. Each group's Rube Goldberg was required to consist of at least 12 steps, or 12 energy transfers. We were also required to complete four calculations using equations that we had learned to analyze different phenomena. You can see a video of our machine below, along with the calculations.
Project Video:
Science Project: How Does Technology Affect Us?
Project Description
For this project, we broke into groups of 3-4 people. The object of the project was to develop a testable question that helped to answer the overarching question of "How does technology affect us?" Our group's question was How has the placement of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public places helped to save lives? We chose to answer this question because we wanted to focus on the other aspects of technology besides cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc. To answer our question, we synthesized information and statistics that we found on the internet, because we couldn't personally collect experimental data on this subject matter.
Using Evidence, In which of the following areas have you shown the most growth?
-Formulating scientific questions
-Designing an experiment
-Gathering and organizing data
-Time Management in the classroom
-Using a spreadsheet to analyze and graph data
-Group Collaboration
Throughout this project, we learned a variety of skills that will be essential to physics' projects in the future. I think the areas that I have shown the most growth include formulating scientific questions and designing an experiment. This project has been the first one where we have really had to develop our own experiment and testable question. I learned how to write a testable question, which I also had never been taught before. I am sure I will use this in the future. On designing an experiment, I have done that before; however, only in elementary school science projects. This was this first time that it actually had meaning and was related to a real world problem/topic. I am excited to continue advancing my knowledge in the other areas listed above as we begin our next project.
For this project, we broke into groups of 3-4 people. The object of the project was to develop a testable question that helped to answer the overarching question of "How does technology affect us?" Our group's question was How has the placement of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public places helped to save lives? We chose to answer this question because we wanted to focus on the other aspects of technology besides cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc. To answer our question, we synthesized information and statistics that we found on the internet, because we couldn't personally collect experimental data on this subject matter.
Using Evidence, In which of the following areas have you shown the most growth?
-Formulating scientific questions
-Designing an experiment
-Gathering and organizing data
-Time Management in the classroom
-Using a spreadsheet to analyze and graph data
-Group Collaboration
Throughout this project, we learned a variety of skills that will be essential to physics' projects in the future. I think the areas that I have shown the most growth include formulating scientific questions and designing an experiment. This project has been the first one where we have really had to develop our own experiment and testable question. I learned how to write a testable question, which I also had never been taught before. I am sure I will use this in the future. On designing an experiment, I have done that before; however, only in elementary school science projects. This was this first time that it actually had meaning and was related to a real world problem/topic. I am excited to continue advancing my knowledge in the other areas listed above as we begin our next project.