Rube Goldberg Chain Reaction Lab
Design a Rube Goldberg machine by placing dominoes, balls, pulleys, ramps, levers, and springs into a 6-step chain. Click Run to watch each element activate in sequence and see how energy transfers from one machine to the next.
Guided Experiment: Chain Reaction Energy Transfer
How does the variety of machine types in a chain affect energy transfer efficiency? Write your prediction before running.
Write your hypothesis in the Lab Report panel, then click Next.
Goal
Ring the Bell
Machines Placed
0 / 6
Energy Score
0
/ 100
Variety Meter
Machine Palette
Drag to slotsChain Reaction Canvas
Drop machines to build your chainControls
Chain Info
No machines placed yet. Drag from the palette above.
Data Table
(0 rows)| # | Trial | Setup | Machines | Unique Types | Energy Score | Result |
|---|
Reference Guide
Energy Transfer
Each machine in the chain converts or transfers energy in a different way.
- Domino / Ball - Transfer kinetic energy by collision or rolling. The moving object carries energy forward.
- Ramp / Spring - Involve potential energy. A ramp converts stored gravitational potential into motion; a spring stores elastic potential energy.
- Pulley / Lever - Redirect or amplify mechanical force without creating energy. They change direction and effort.
A chain with more diverse energy types demonstrates more of the energy transformation cycle.
NGSS Engineering Design
The NGSS engineering design process applies directly to building chain reactions.
- Define the problem - The goal is to ring the bell using exactly 6 machine steps.
- Design a solution - Choose machine types and order them so each one can trigger the next.
- Optimize - Experiment with different combinations to maximize the energy variety score.
Standards: MS-PS3-5, HS-PS3-3, K-2-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3
Chain Reaction Examples
Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was an American cartoonist famous for drawing intentionally over-complicated machines to perform simple tasks.
- Honda "Cog" ad (2003) - A 2-minute chain reaction using real car parts. Took 606 takes to film.
- OK Go "This Too Shall Pass" (2010) - A music video featuring a room-sized chain reaction machine.
- Purdue Grand Prix Rube Goldberg Contest - Annual college competition for most complex machine.
The Six Simple Machines
All of the machine types in this lab are based on the six classical simple machines.
- Lever - A bar that rotates around a fulcrum point.
- Wheel and Axle - Represented here by the ball rolling.
- Pulley - A grooved wheel with a rope to redirect force.
- Inclined Plane - The ramp, reducing force needed to raise objects.
- Wedge - Related to the domino as a force concentrator.
- Screw - The spring stores and releases energy in a coil.
