Rube Goldberg project
Carroll eighth grade technology students built a Rube Goldberg device as a class exercise. The students designed the contrivance themselves, using wood scraps and various objects including a mouse trap, golf ball, legos, strings, pulleys, and screws. They worked in groups of two, each making one section of the device. The trick was for all five sections to work together to accomplish the end task of ringing a bell. The project was set in motion by dropping a ball bearing into PVC pipe. Then simple machines and energy completed the process. Students pictured around the project (at left) are (clockwise, starting lower left): Josh Spray, Matthew Hufford, Tre Robinson, Connor Wells, Tyler Collins. Keigan DeVos is shown in the background. In the top photo, Connor and Josh watch intently, anticipating that the bell will ring when the battery falls. The bell did ring, signifying that the project worked as planned. Class instructor is Tyler Sausaman. Comet photos by Jennifer Archibald