THE MILK MAN
A Rube Goldberg machine is a machine that through a series of steps completes a simple goal. It is very complex and was named after a Pulitzer prize winning cartoonist Rube Goldberg. Goldberg would draw put creative devices for his cartoons. For our project, our end result was to stir chocolate powder into milk making chocolate milk. We used ten different steps to master a perform a very easy task. In my group there was me, Andre Ng, Connor Moylan, and Carina Masters. We learned how to use many tools to build this such as saws, hammers, and drills. We learned about the processes of physics and engineering and put our knowledge to work. Over a fifteen day period, our group worked hard to make THE MILK MAN. The first few days, we spent getting our supplies together and getting a complete understanding of what we were going to do and how we were going to do it. Then, we got to work and started building it. We started with making a platform so our project could stand up and then we built from the top down. Over the next twelve to thirteen days we built until we were on the last day and nearly finished. We had a few problems along the way that we fixed with creative thinking. That last day, we were making sure everything worked perfectly. WE had to make a few small touches and then we were done. We also made a power point presentation on our project.
10 Steps
For our project, we had 10 different steps. Our first step was a pulley system. The pulley had had a mechanical advantage of two because there were two pulleys used. We had 500 pounds of weight on both sides and using the pulley, it the weight raised up hitting a lever that had our little hot-rod car on it. The lever then raised on the side that the weight pushed up and the ball rolled down it. The lever had a mechanical 2.3 and the car rolled down it at a velocity of 1.22 m/s. After the lever, the car rolled off onto an inclined plane. The inclined plane had a mechanical advantage of 4.5 and the car rolled at a velocity of 2.3 m/s on the inclined plane. Then, the car hit a lego piece which was holding up another lever at a force of 9.14 N. Then, the lever fell down which had eight marbles on it. This next lever had a mechanical advantage of 1.5. After the marbles came down the lever, a few pf them fell through a hole and onto another inclined plane. This next one had a mechanical advantage of 3.86 the marbles then dropped down onto another inclined plane that had two bigger balls and the marbles knocked down the balls and they rolled down the ramp. This second one had a mechanical advantage of 4.6 and the balls rolled down it at a velocity of .36m/s. Then, the balls dropped onto the third inclined plane. The balls dropped down and hit a tennis ball that went down this ramp. This ramp has a mechanical advantage of 4.6. Then, the tennis ball and all the other balls dropped into the cup, which is supported by a pulley system. This pulley system has a mechanical advantage of 1. After, the balls drop into the cup, a wedge is pulled out of the way. The wedge has a mechanical advantage of 1.1. The wedge is keeping a lacrosse ball from rolling down an inclined plane. The ball is connected to another pulley system which has a mechanical advantage of 2. Once the ball gets dropped, the pulley system activates which is connected to a switch. The switch is pulled triggering a motor which turns a screw made of spoons which stirs the chocolate milk.
For our project, we had 10 different steps. Our first step was a pulley system. The pulley had had a mechanical advantage of two because there were two pulleys used. We had 500 pounds of weight on both sides and using the pulley, it the weight raised up hitting a lever that had our little hot-rod car on it. The lever then raised on the side that the weight pushed up and the ball rolled down it. The lever had a mechanical 2.3 and the car rolled down it at a velocity of 1.22 m/s. After the lever, the car rolled off onto an inclined plane. The inclined plane had a mechanical advantage of 4.5 and the car rolled at a velocity of 2.3 m/s on the inclined plane. Then, the car hit a lego piece which was holding up another lever at a force of 9.14 N. Then, the lever fell down which had eight marbles on it. This next lever had a mechanical advantage of 1.5. After the marbles came down the lever, a few pf them fell through a hole and onto another inclined plane. This next one had a mechanical advantage of 3.86 the marbles then dropped down onto another inclined plane that had two bigger balls and the marbles knocked down the balls and they rolled down the ramp. This second one had a mechanical advantage of 4.6 and the balls rolled down it at a velocity of .36m/s. Then, the balls dropped onto the third inclined plane. The balls dropped down and hit a tennis ball that went down this ramp. This ramp has a mechanical advantage of 4.6. Then, the tennis ball and all the other balls dropped into the cup, which is supported by a pulley system. This pulley system has a mechanical advantage of 1. After, the balls drop into the cup, a wedge is pulled out of the way. The wedge has a mechanical advantage of 1.1. The wedge is keeping a lacrosse ball from rolling down an inclined plane. The ball is connected to another pulley system which has a mechanical advantage of 2. Once the ball gets dropped, the pulley system activates which is connected to a switch. The switch is pulled triggering a motor which turns a screw made of spoons which stirs the chocolate milk.
The schematic on the left is our original one. We originally included pouring the chocolate powder in it but we decided to get rid of that as we had enough problem in the rest of our project, which we later fixed. The picture on the right is our final schematic. we made the end part more simple. Also, in our first schematic, we had a balloon that held up one side of the lever instead of the lego piece which we had in the end. Overall, we had a few changes between our original schematic and our end result.
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Physics Concepts
In our project, we had to use many different physics concepts for the six simple machines that we used. our six simple machines were pulley systems (3), levers (2), inclined plane (5), wedge (1), screw (1), and wheel and axle (4). In the pictures above, we calculated them. We calculated:
In our project, we had to use many different physics concepts for the six simple machines that we used. our six simple machines were pulley systems (3), levers (2), inclined plane (5), wedge (1), screw (1), and wheel and axle (4). In the pictures above, we calculated them. We calculated:
- Mechanical Advantage: Mechanical advantage is a measure of how much easier doing something is by using a machine compared to not using that machine. Or as Wikipedia states it, mechanical advantage is a measure of the force amplification achieved by using a tool, mechanical device or machine system. If something required half as much work with the machine, the mechanical advantage would be 2, meaning it was twice as easy. To find the mechanical advantage of a machine, you use the equation work w/ machine over work w/o machine. Also, for some things such as an inclined plane, you calculate the mechanical advantage by doing base divided by height.
- Force: Force is basically how hard something hits something or how hard something is pushing something. Force is represented by the equation mass x acceleration. We used force to calculate how hard the car in the beginning hit the lego piece. Force is measured in Newtons.
- Potential Energy: Potential energy is somewhat summed up in the name. It's the potential amount of energy that something has. It is calculated relative to its height and position. We used potential energy in our calculations for the inclined planes and levers.
- Kinetic Energy: Kinetic energy is the amount of energy an object has while its doing the action. The marbles had potential energy at the top of the inclined planes but that quickly turned to kinetic energy as they went down.
- Work: Work is basically force but it factors in the distance of something. If you run into a brick wall that doesn't move, you are putting a great amount of force on it but aren't doing any work. Work is Force x distance or mass x acceleration x distance. Work is measured in Joules.
Reflection
Overall, my first STEM project was very fun and a huge success. I was lucky to be in a great group with hard working, entertaining people. We all had great times joking around while also getting a great amount of work done. I guess you could say we put in a lot of Joules. I learned a lot about physics, tools, and teamwork. Also, I liked the responsibility that we were given. Mr. Williams told us all we needed to know about physics and the tools and let us figure everything else out. It was a great learning experience for all of us. I am very glad that we got to do this creative project and hope that we can do many more like this one.
Our end result was pretty good. Although, our machine didn't work all the time, it worked more often than not. I'd say that it worked approximately 70 - 80% of the time. The parts that would mess up were the switch at the end. Sometimes, we couldn't get enough pulling force on the switch to start the motor. Another spot that occasionally messed up was that the car wouldn't always hit the lego piece. It would get stuck at the bottom of the lever or it would flip over.
My job in this project as well as building it, and making the powerpoint, was fixing the parts that wouldn't work. One of the parts that I fixed was where the tennis ball was being held up on the inclined plane. I'll admit, I fixed it somewhat by accident. I was fooling around and using the staple gun to put staples into a piece of wood for no reason. During this, my group was trying to figure out how to keep the tennis ball in one spot. While, I was doing this, I thought, you know what this might work. I showed my group and we tried it and it was the only thing that worked. Sometimes you can accomplish things by fooling around.
Some things that I want to work on for my next project is to stay on task more and take a bigger leadership role. In this project, a lot of the time i was asking and being told what to do instead of coming up with things that needed to be done. I feel that taking more of a leadership role will cause me to stay on track.
Our end result was pretty good. Although, our machine didn't work all the time, it worked more often than not. I'd say that it worked approximately 70 - 80% of the time. The parts that would mess up were the switch at the end. Sometimes, we couldn't get enough pulling force on the switch to start the motor. Another spot that occasionally messed up was that the car wouldn't always hit the lego piece. It would get stuck at the bottom of the lever or it would flip over.
My job in this project as well as building it, and making the powerpoint, was fixing the parts that wouldn't work. One of the parts that I fixed was where the tennis ball was being held up on the inclined plane. I'll admit, I fixed it somewhat by accident. I was fooling around and using the staple gun to put staples into a piece of wood for no reason. During this, my group was trying to figure out how to keep the tennis ball in one spot. While, I was doing this, I thought, you know what this might work. I showed my group and we tried it and it was the only thing that worked. Sometimes you can accomplish things by fooling around.
Some things that I want to work on for my next project is to stay on task more and take a bigger leadership role. In this project, a lot of the time i was asking and being told what to do instead of coming up with things that needed to be done. I feel that taking more of a leadership role will cause me to stay on track.