Rube Goldberg Machine Research Paper

Have you ever needed to do a certain simple task, but wished there was a machine to do it for you? The purpose of a Rube Goldberg machine is to create a complicated system in order to complete a tiny, simple task. What is a Rube Goldberg machine you may ask? A Rube Goldberg machine is an over- engineered contraption that uses a chain reaction to accomplish simple tasks such as turning on the music, pouring a glass of water, etc. This specific Rube Goldberg machine’s task is to move the last piece on the chessboard to score checkmate by using the most complicated arrangement possible.
In this Rube Goldberg machine, an outside source of energy is transferred through the machine when someone adds force to part of the machine therefore starting the “simple” task. The initial energy is transferred from through each object therefore creating a chain reaction and then resulting in moving the final chess piece. There are two main types of energy as demonstrated in the Rube Goldberg machine; potential energy and kinetic energy. Potential energy can be seen when a rubber band is stretched out, or the string of a bow and arrow is pulled back, but has not yet been released. This is called potential energy because it has the potential to turn into kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is when the rubber band is actually released and slingshots forward. Although kinetic energy and potential energy are connected and related, they are not the same. The way that a Rube Goldberg machine functions, is that there is only one time energy can be …show more content…
The Rube Goldberg machine has inspired many people to do such amazing things that other people enjoy watching and learning about. There are countless examples of Rube Goldberg machines in the world and so many people can be so creative with the simple concept of the Rube Goldberg