My 6th grade son has a project to do for the Rube Goldberg invention contest. From what I understand, it involves a process of making something simple into a very complex process. Ex. one contestant figured out a way to pour a soda in 35 steps. If I were in this class, I don't think I would pass. You have to use simple machines, pulley's,etc to accomplish your task.

Anybody with any experience with this, or that may have some ideas they would like to share?

TIA

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 06:31 pm:

35 steps or 35 ways?

By Kay on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 06:38 pm:

I used to have a Rube Goldberg book - it's pretty cool. Did you ever see/play the board game called "Mousetrap"? It's the same concept...ex.: a marble rolls to trip a rubber band, which snaps to drop a rock on a lever, etc., etc.

Check out some of Rube Goldberg's drawings, and it will make sense.

By Katherine on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 07:17 pm:

Kay, You're right it is alot like mousetrap.

Yes it is 35 steps, not 35 ways.


These are the kinds of projects that parents end of doing instead of the kid. Geez......

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 07:22 pm:

Here's the official "Rube Goldberg" site:
http://www.rube-goldberg.com/

And here's a page of best Rube Goldberg links, from the web site of a 14 year old boy who won a Rube Goldberg design contest:

http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Cottage/6102/rube-links.html

I've looked at it some more, and this boy's site has a lot of resource links. I strongly recommend it.

By Jewlz on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 10:09 pm:

this brings back m emories for me ... my son was in a hi school club that took two years of planning to the award of guiness book of rube gold berg. it was cool to be involved. I lost some items from the house a bowling ball and a vaccuum cleaner he told me that died. hmmmmmm and he did catch his face on fire but in the long run it was a laot of fun and well worth it.ill talk to my son and ur son can email me at
sewinsofun @ hotmail.com. he is starting a rube gold berg club in jr hi around here and they are throwing ideas around. let his imagination run wild the wilder the better.

By Janet on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 10:08 am:

I remember a Rube Goldberg book when I was a kid, about how to put cotton into an asprin bottle. It involved a sleeping man with a string on his toe, something to do with a mouse, and oh, I can't remember it all. Very funny, though! "Mousetrap" is the same concept, as Kay said. Sounds like a fun assignment!
My dd had to make a simple machine one year that popped a balloon. It had a candle that burned a string that was attached to something or other that caused a lever with a tack on it come up underneath the balloon and pop it. Good luck!

By Lauram on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 10:11 am:

Try this link from my website. It has the Rube Goldberg link as well as other info about simple machines. http://khs.westport.k12.ct.us/lfm/general_science_links.htm

By Katherine on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 06:04 pm:

Thanks guys....
Now if I can just get his behind in here to start on it!