Simple Machines and Building the Rube Goldberg Machine
Instruct students on simple machines with this Rube Goldberg machine.
Grade Level: Middle School
Discipline: STEM, Simple Machines
Standards: Tennessee State Standards
EPSCI.PS3: Energy. 1) Identify and give examples of the various forms of energy (kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential) and solve mathematical problems regarding the work-energy theorem and power. 2) Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that thermal energy will move as heat between objects of two different temperatures, resulting in a more uniform energy distribution. (temperature) among the objects. 3) Design, build, and refine a device within design constraints that has a series of simple machines to transfer energy and/or do mechanical work. 4) Collect data and present your findings regarding the law of conservation of energy and the efficiency, mechanical advantage, and power of the refined device.
Students will understand an introduction of work and how work is done. They will also understand how power is the rate at which work is done. This section will cover the mechanical advantage of various simple machines. This chapter also explores the six simple machines and distinguishes between different forms of energy.
- How is work calculated?
- What is the relationship between work and power?
- How do machines make work easier?
- What are the six types of simple machines?
- How does using an inclined plane change the force required to do work?
- What is the law of conservation of Energy?
- How much of the work done by a machine is actually useful work?
Learn more by downloading the activity plan above.
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