The SySTEMic Solutions Engineering Challenge-Rube Goldberg Machine

Deadline for student entries is Monday, April 11th.

Description of Project Criteria:

The spring Challenge is an individual challenge for students in the 8th grade but groups up to three may also participate.

For the SySTEMic Solutions Engineering Challenge, students must create a Rube Goldberg Machine that does one of the following:

  1. Turn on a light switch or flashlight
  2. Inflate and pop a balloon
  3. Squeeze a tube of toothpaste onto a toothbrush

But there are two twists. Earth Day is in the month of April, so each Rube Goldberg Machine must incorporate 5 recyclable itemsAND must contain 3 examples of energy transformations.Video tapes of the Rube Goldberg Machine must be submitted to demonstrate the machine works three consecutive times.

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Entry Criteria:

A cover page must accompany each entry. Each cover page must contain the project name from the selection above and the student, school, and teacher’s name. Each consecutive page must contain a header with the student and school name.

Page One: Research Assignment

Research Rube Goldberg and explain his significance. Be sure to reference all sources.

Lessons learned from previous Challenges.

Be careful using the web for your research. Sites such as Wikipedia contain wonderful information but this is an open source code site which allows anyone to post data even if it is not 100% accurate.

Page Two: List the Steps for Creating the Rube Goldberg Machine.

Document the steps used to create your Rube Goldberg Machine. Be sure that your machine contains 5 simple machines, 5 recyclables, and 3 energy transformations.

Page Three: Draw a Diagram of Rube Goldberg Machine.

On an 8 ½” x 11” piece of paper, draw a clear and concise diagram of your Rube Goldberg Machine. Be sure that your diagram matches the steps previously documented.

Good Luck!!On Junethe winners will be invited to a celebration luncheon, tour, and career awareness presentation by engineers.

The SySTEMic Solutions Engineering Challenge Rubric – Rube Goldberg

Spring 2016

Description of Project Criteria / Possible Points / Points Received
  1. Research Report Complete
Who is Rube Goldberg and what did he do?
(The report should be typed with all sources cited. The report should contain a cover page with the project name, the name of the student and the name of the school. Each consecutive page should contain a header with the student and school name.) / 20 Points
  1. List of Steps
A written description of the machine’s steps.
(The steps must identify the usage of five simple machines, the use of five recycled materials, and showcase a minimum of three different examples of energy transformation.) / 15 Points
  1. Diagram of Machine
A labeled diagram of your machine.
(Label the diagram on an 8 ½” x 11” piece of paper and include a key, if necessary.) / 15 Points
  1. Theme and Creativity
(Includes creative use of materials and use of them in the machine.) / 30 Points
  1. Successfulness of a Working Machine
Students will demonstrate to their school’s project coordinator that their machine will work in three consecutive attempts.
An entry moving forward to be judged by The SySTEMic Solutions Engineering Challenge Task Force will need a ten minute or less video submission. *
(The goal of the submitted video presents an actual visual of the working machine progressing through its “List of Steps,” as designed and submitted by the student.) * / 20 Points
100 Total Points

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