Scholarship Physical Science 4th Quarter INDIVIDUAL Independent Study Project
Goal 1: Students will build a “Rube Goldberg” device that meets the listed requirements.
“Rube Goldberg” device specifications:
· The machine must perform ONE task of the student’s choice (tasks occur at the end of an energy sequence).
· Human energy may only be used once to begin the device’s action—this is not counted as an action performed by the machine.
· No further human energy can be applied to the device once it starts.
· A minimum of FIVE different actions must take place once the device is started.
o All activity associated with one lever, pulley, ramp, etc. is part of one action. (see last page for example)
o Any, and all, dominoes used can only count as ONE action. This also includes any other items used to create a “domino effect”.
o The five actions DO NOT include sound or thermal energy this quarter.
· The machine must contain a combination of at least TWO movable pulleys and/or levers. Eye hooks and parts that do not rotate are not pulleys for this project.
· Any task, involving the moving of an object, must move the object a
minimum of 8 centimeters up, down, or sideways.
· If electricity is being used, the device many NOT plug into a wall outlet (must use batteries).
· The machine must be anchored on a portable base (platform).
o The area of the base can be any shape
o The area must be NO WIDER than 80 cm (it has to fit through the door to
school and classroom.)
· ALL materials for this device will be supplied by the student.
· NO materials can be borrowed from the teacher or school.
· Students must be able to transport the device to and from school.
Demonstrating the “Rube Goldberg” device
· The student will have THREE free attempts to successfully demonstrate the device.
o A fourth attempt will cost 5% of the final grade if successful (10 points).
o A fifth attempt will cost 10% of the final grade if successful (20 points).
o No more than five attempts will be allowed.
· Each student will have 20 minutes to successfully perform their device. This includes setting up, practice and up to five official attempts.
· On final presentation day 10% will be deducted from the final grade for each occurrence of the following:
o Changing the design of the device.
o Receiving assistance before or between attempts from people other than your partner.
Presentation dates
· Dates will be determined by a “lottery” method.
· Students will be presenting during regular class time.
· Projects cannot be left in the classroom overnight, due to lack of storage space, unless special arrangements have been made with the teacher PRIOR to presentation day.
Extra credit options (You may earn up to 10% extra credit):
· Students may earn a 5% bonus by choosing ONE or 10% bonus by choosing TWO different additions to be incorporated with the device from the following selections :
o Having a minimum of SIX actions with one action involving electrical energy.
o Having a device that performs at least TWO different tasks.
Goal 2: Students will submit a reflective journal and pictures of their device.
Journal Requirements
· Minimum of 5 practice trials.
o With each trial a journal entry with the following is required:
§ What?
§ So what?
§ Now what?
-What?-Explain your machine and provide details on how it should work
- Why did you choose the actions included in your machine?
- Why did you choose the task(s) in your machine?
-If this is a repeat trail what happened with the changes you made? Did anything different happen this trial that did not happen the first trial?
-So what? - If your task/action(s) didn’t work, why not? If everything worked as it should, how are you going to make sure it continues to work as planned?
-Now what?-What are you going to do to make your machine better?
· Pictures of final design
o Show all parts labeled correctly.
o All dimensions of the device listed in meters or centimeters
o Shows the entire device
o Matches the actual device submitted
o Contains no spelling errors
· Sequence of energy conversions (flow chart) taking place in the toy
· A minimum of FIVE types of energy with FOUR energy conversions should be included. Types of energy may be used and/or counted more than once. The five actions DO NOT include sound or thermal energy this quarter, but these energies should be included in the flow chart. The energies for ALL the steps for the machine must be shown.
· Each energy description should include the following and be labeled in this order:
o The classification of energy as potential or kinetic.
o The type of energy.
o An explanation of how this type of energy relates to the movement of the device.
· Arrows are to be included on the chart to interconnect energy types.
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Any student who will be absent during the week of May 1st due to a field trip, in-school performance, out of school trip, or other preplanned absence must notify your teacher seven days before the absence occurs so the presentation schedule can be changed accordingly.
Any student missing their scheduled time slot for any reasons listed above will be presenting his/her device no later than May 12th.
Failing to notify the teacher about a pre-arranged absence seven days in advance will result in no credit being awarded for the project.
Flow chart example
A A
B B
A ball starts from the top of the hill at point A and rolls to a stop at point B.
The energy flow chart for this action is shown below.
Scholarship Physical Science- Rube Goldberg INDIVIDUAL Device Score sheet
Student Name ______Period ______
Rube Goldberg device points / /100PowerPoint/Poster points / /100
Extra Credit points—May choose up to TWO different options:
Option 1: Device has a minimum of SIX actions
(not including thermal and sound energy) with one action
involving electrical energy (+10 pts).
Option 2: Device performs at least TWO different
tasks (+10 pts). / +0 +10 +20
Point deductions (not including trials 4 and 5)
Receiving assistance from students during project presentation. (20 pts)
Changing the design (making modifications) to the device. (20 pts)
Not having device attached to a portable platform/base. (20 pts)
Take longer than 20 minutes to present device. (20 pts)
Device plugs into outlet for electricity (24 pts)
Project does not fit through door (40 pts)
TOTAL POINTS / /200
Final score / %
Scholarship Physical Science- Rube Goldberg INDIVIDUAL Device Evaluation
Student Name ______Period ______
Points:______/100
How many pulleys or levers are used in this design?How many different actions (not including thermal and sound energy) occur in this device?
How many actions involve electrical energy?
How many tasks are to be completed?
Student changed the design of the device on testing day (-40 points per occurrence)
Point deduction / -20 pts. / -40 pts. / -60 pts. / -80 pts. / -100 pts. / -120 pts. / -140 pts. / -160 pts. / -180 pts. / -200 pts.Student received assistance on testing day (-40 points per occurrence)
Point deduction / -20 pts. / -40 pts. / -60 pts. / -80 pts. / -100 pts. / -120 pts. / -140 pts. / -160 pts. / -180 pts. / -200 pts.Device plugs into an outlet for power (-24 points)
Device not attached to a sturdy base/platform (-20 points)
Project takes longer than 20 minutes to present (-20 points)
Attempt 1 / Attempt 2 / Attempt 3 / Attempt 4 / Attempt 5FREE / FREE / FREE / -10 points / -20 points
Successful / Successful / Successful / Successful / Successful
Number of prompts needed / Number of prompts needed / Number of prompts needed / Number of prompts needed / Number of prompts needed
Number of tasks
completed / Number of tasks
completed / Number of tasks
completed / Number of tasks
completed / Number of tasks
completed
Unsuccessful / Unsuccessful / Unsuccessful / Unsuccessful / Unsuccessful
Rube Goldberg Individual Device Rubric
4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0Design
(X5)
_____/20 / The device uses a minimum of two pulleys and/or levers. / The device uses one pulley or lever. / The device uses no pulleys or levers
Actions
(X7.5)
_____/30 / The device performs a minimum of five actions. / The device performs a minimum of four actions. / The device performs a minimum of three actions. / The device performs a minimum of two actions. / The device performs fewer than two actions.
Continuous motion
(X5)
_____/20 / After the initial action the machine will continue without any further human energy. / After the initial action the student has to prompt the machine once for it to complete its sequence. / After the initial action the student has to prompt the machine twice for it to complete its sequence. / After the initial action the student has to prompt the machine three times for it to complete its sequence. / After the initial action the student has to prompt the machine more than three times for it to complete its sequence.
Tasks
(X7.5)
_____/30 / The device:
1) Successfully performs at least one task.
2) Will move objects the minimum 8 cm (if moving an object is the desired task). / The device:
1) Successfully performs at least one task.
2) Does not move one or more objects a minimum 8 cm (if moving an object is the desired task). / The device does not successfully perform any tasks.
Journal Rubric
4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0Journal
(x10)
40 points / Team: 7 trials completed
Individual: 5 trials completed
All with the following included:
1) What?
2) So what?
3) Now what? / Teacher comments for incorrect journaling:
Digital
Photographs
(x7.5)
30 points / Digital Pictures of FINAL design:
1) Lists all dimensions of the device labeled correctly and in meters or centimeters.
2) Shows all energy conversions (entire device)
3) Matches the actual device submitted for final grade.
4) Contains no spelling errors. / Only three of four requirements are included. / Only two of four requirements are included. / Only one of the four requirements are included. / None of the requirements are included.
OR
Labels are illegible
Sequence of
Energy
Conversions
(x7.5)
30 points / The diagram:
1) Will show a minimum of 7 types of energies and 6 conversions. (Heat and sound do not count towards the 7 energies but should be included in the flow chart). Energies for the entire machine must be shown.
2) Will show no errors in energy types or conversion sequence.
3) Will show an explanation of each energy type that correctly relates to the movement of the toy.
4) Includes arrows.
5) Contains no spelling errors or grammatical errors. / The diagram
contains one
error within the following areas:
1) Energy types.
2) Explanation of energy types.
3) Energy conversions.
4) Arrows.
5) Spelling. / The diagram
contains two
errors within the following areas:
1) Energy types.
2) Explanation of energy types.
3) Energy conversions.
4) Arrows.
5) Spelling. / The diagram
contains three
errors within the following areas:
1) Energy types.
2) Explanation of energy types.
3) Energy conversions.
4) Arrows.
5) Spelling. / The diagram
contains more than three
errors within the following areas:
1) Energy types.
2) Explanation of energy types.
3) Energy conversions.
4) Arrows.
5) Spelling.
Energy Introduction for Scholarship Physical Science
Energy
· Energy enables physical work to be done.
· Energy is a property a body has that helps it move against a force.
· Physical work is done when something moves against a force.
o This needs a transfer of energy to take place.
o Work is done when we lift an object from a table onto a shelf.
§ We are lifting the weight (a force) upwards.
§ Energy is transferred from our arm to the object.
Types of energy
· Potential- Energy that is stored in a body and has the potential to do work.
o Chemical
§ Energy a body has because of what it is made of.
§ Present in a battery, explosives, food, gasoline
o Elastic
§ Energy stored when something is stretched or compressed.
§ Present in a pulled rubber band or squashed spring.
o Gravitational
§ The energy a body has because it is near something
§ When we lift an object up, we transfer energy to it.
§ We say that it gains gravitational potential energy.
§ The higher the object is lifted the more gravitational energy it will gain.
o Nuclear
§ Energy stored in the nucleus of atoms that can be released during fission, fusion, or radioactive decay.
· Kinetic- Energy a body has because it is moving.
o How much kinetic energy a body has depends on its speed and mass.
o Sound
§ Energy that causes a vibration that propagates as a typically audible mechanical wave of pressure and displacement, through a medium such as air or water
o Heat
§ Energy transferred from hot regions to cool regions because of the temperature difference between them
o Electrical
§ Kinetic energy of moving charges in an electrical circuit
o Electro-magnetic
§ Energy derived by electromagnetic radiation, such as light or X-rays.
o Mechanical
§ The ability to do work
Additional information may be found in your textbook.
What is a lever or a pulley?
Lever-is a rigid bar resting on a pivot, used to help move a heavy or firmly fixed load with one end when pressure is applied to the other.