Your Challenge is to Build a Rube Goldberg Machine with a Halloween Twist
Let’s get started! Your Halloween themed Rube Goldberg Machine must do something at the end. This could be to turn off a light, put candy in a cauldron, make a scary noise. Surprise us with something spooky! Your Rube Goldberg Machine should include:
Plan your machine on paper or white board. You need 8 steps that do something spooky at the end.
Be creative
Include your simple machines
Look for how you can incorporate energy transfers (for ex: dominoes release kinetic energy as they knock the next domino and move to the next step. When a marble rolls, its’ gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. What is the marble rolling down? You guessed it, a simple machine.)
Does your Rube Goldberg Machine contain a chain reaction? The dictionary says; A chain reaction is a series of events in which each event is the result of the one preceding and the cause of the one following.
Capture your Rube Goldberg Machine with pics or video. Contact Us to submit.
There are so many great examples of a Rube Goldberg Machine.
Check Out one of our favorites from OK Go.
More About Rube Goldberg
Who Was Rube Goldberg?
Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist best known for his zany invention cartoons. Fun Fact! Rube Goldberg was also an engineer and inventor combining STEM + Art or STEAM. Learn more at RubeGoldberg.org.
What is a Rube Goldberg Machine?
A Rube Goldberg Machine is an overly complicated contraption or series of contraptions designed to perform a simple task. Often Rube Goldberg Machines are described as a chain reaction and include simple machines. Rube Goldberg Machines are fun and funny…a great combination!
What is a Rube Goldberg Challenge?
The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest started at Purdue University in 1949 as a competition between fraternities. Rube Goldberg Challenges and Competitions are held for all ages around the world. It’s a great family activity! More at RubeGoldberg.org.