Simple Machines: Facts (Science Trek: Idaho Public Television) Once upon a time a person needed to move something heavy. He or she picked up a long stick and stuck it under the edge of the heavy object and then pushed down on the other end of the stick. And the first simple machine was invented. Simple machines are just that. The simplest form of using one thing to accomplish something faster or better. A tool. There are 6 basic simple machines; the lever, the wheel and axle, the inclined plane, the wedge, the pulley, and the screw. But what is work? The Lever The lever is a long tool such as a pole or a rod put under an object to lift it. Levers are all around us. The Wheel & Axle The wheel has always been considered a major invention in the history of mankind. Wheels are found where things turn in a circle such as an electric fan, a motor, a revolving door, a merry go round, and any wheel — on the car, on your skateboard, or on a bicycle. The Inclined Plane The inclined plane is simply a ramp. The Wedge The Pulley The Screw Measuring Work
The Official Rube Goldberg Website News: You're the President Science Gal: Rube Goldberg Design Brief I am so excited about our next engineering project in our STEM related curriculum. We made Rube Goldberg machines! First, there are some excellent interactive computer programs that your students can do either at home or at school. The first one is from FOSS (of course)....You get to manipulate the different parts of the machine to catch a burglar. The other one is from Zoom with PBS. Next I presented them with a design brief - You can purchase this design brief at Teachers Pay Teachers if you would like your own copy! The next day, the students built their machines and I video taped their trials. When we finished, the students reflected on what went well, what they would improve next time and drew a diagram of their redesigns. Comment:
ASPIRE Simple & Comples Machines In an unknown time and an uncharted place, the ASPIRE crew has accepted the challenge to assist in the completion of a city being constructed of massive stones. They must work without the advantage of modern technology. They have agreed to rely primarily on the use of the six simple machines to accomplish their mission. Before getting to work, two crew members, Harry and Pic, have used available materials to fashion themselves a tetter-totter just to give them something to do for fun. This never seems fair. Drag the slider bars to move Harry and Pic until they have becomed balanced. Simple machines give us an advantage by changing the amount, speed, or direction of forces. Would you have a problem if the door knob came off in your hand before you unlatched the door? From day to day do you find yourself using any of the six simple machines: Wedge Lever Incline Plane Pulley Wheel Screw
Amazing Rube Goldberg Contraptions and Invention Convention Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2016 April 15 Mercury and Crescent Moon Set Image Credit & Copyright: Miguel Claro (TWAN, Dark Sky Alqueva) Explanation: Innermost planet Mercury and a thin crescent Moon are never found far from the Sun in planet Earth's skies. Taken near dusk on April 8, this colorful evening skyscape shows them both setting toward the western horizon just after the Sun. Tomorrow's picture: Heliopause Electrostatic Rapid Transit System Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD at NASA / GSFC& Michigan Tech.
Rube Goldberg – Who is this guy and how can he help me teach STEM? | Minds Enabled Rube Goldberg Machine – a mechanism that performs a simple task using a complicated series of actions, named after an American cartoonist/artist/writer/inventor My name is Matthew Dear and I am the Senior Curriculum Developer here at Enable Education. I have my Masters in Education and have had the wonderful opportunity to teach multiple grades and levels of learners. As is the case with many teachers, I was committed to teaching quality science lessons that were both innovative and inclusive. Working here at Enable Education has allowed me to really explore science education, including the elementary level. To demonstrate the potential of science and engineering in the classroom, over the next six weeks, we’ll be releasing sample resources for elementary and upper elementary learners. Our team of engineering interns here at Enable have created a Rube Goldberg Machine to introduce six simple machines. For each simple machine, we’ll be releasing engineering education materials. Thanks,
Rube Goldberg : Home of the Official Rube Goldberg Machine Contests The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest (RGMC) is an annual international competition that challenges teams of students from middle school to college age to compete in building the most elaborate and hilarious Rube Goldberg Machine. A Rube Goldberg Machine is an overly complex contraption, designed with humor and a narrative, to accomplish a simple task. The 2015 Task is: ERASE A CHALKBOARD. Team Registration is open now! The RGMC is STEM and STEAM friendly, and Teams and their machines are judged on a range of criteria from absurd complexity, reliability, team chemistry, creativity, humor and story-telling -- along with the successful achievement of the task at hand. Download the ALL NEW CONTEST 2015 Rule Book. Click here to find out How To Register Goldberg’s legacy lives on through the contests -- as students nationwide build crazy machines that complete the annual task, all in the spirit of Rube’s illustrations. View the International Online Contest page for middle school students.
How to Build a Homemade Rube Goldberg Machine: 7 steps Edit Article Edited by Greg S, Nicole Willson, Maluniu, Travis Derouin and 63 others Rube Goldberg machines are a fascinating and fun way to put your creativeness to good use. Ad Steps 1Look at several Rube Goldberg machines for inspiration. 7Decorate your machine if desired. Tips Some homemade Rube Goldberg staples include: dominoes, mousetraps, hamsters, and Barbie dolls. Warnings If things are being launched, wear eye protection.Use safe steps.
Bugscope: Home Simple Machine Challenge 1. Introduce the concept that simple machines make work easier. Tell the class the definition of work used in science may differ from what most people think of as work. Imagine that you want the same amount of work to get done using less force. Introduce the class to the names of various simple machines and show them a picture of each from the Simple Machines photo gallery: levers, the wheel and axle, pulleys, screws, and inclined planes. Explain that complicated machines, such as robots and cars, are made up of combinations of simple machines and other parts. Explain that students are going to try simple experiments with simple machines, and then use those simple machines to solve challenges. 2. Construct a lever by taping a marker parallel to the edge of the table. Discuss what the class saw and what the volunteer observed. 3. Introduce the lever challenge. Separate the class into groups of 2-4. 4. 5. Introduce the pulley challenge. Separate the class into groups of 2-4. 6. 7. 8.