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Scrap Project
4-28-10
Group 6
Class A1
Adam Holbrook, Tyler Rutherford, Brent Davis, Dave Moser
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Overview
A device was constructed that switched on a CD player and started the next group’s
device. While the device did not function perfectly 100% of the time, the overall result was a
device that would somewhat reliably function as part of a larger system.
Introduction
The project’s goal was to create a device in the style of Rube-Goldberg that would turn
an electrical device on and start another team’s device. Making use of as many different
concepts as we could, we constructed a device that was both functional and diverse. The
following paragraphs detail the workings of the device and its processes.
Design Process
We started by building a main structure to house our device, the area being half of a
meter, by half of a meter, by four fifths of a meter. Our initial design did produce fruitful results.
Therefore, we quickly revised the design and decided upon what became the final product. The
part of the device that gave us the most trouble was the first step, as getting the car into the cup
consistently proved difficult. After a few extra objects to guide it on its way, the rest of the steps
were easy. Hotwheels tracks were used for the cars to travel down, and K’nex pieces made the
seesaw. We constructed the pendulum from several different blocks of wood and a small pin.
The trigger was made from K’nex pieces, while the “hammer” was another Hotwheels toy we
used. The best way to trigger the next team’s device was a wheel with panels, constructed from
different pieces of wood.
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Device Description

The entire process begins with the touch of a button. Upon touching the button, a springloaded car launcher will launch a toy car upwards and into cup, suspended by string.
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The cup is part of a pulley system. Upon catching the car, the cup will lower and pull a
wooden block upwards.

The wooden block will hit the back end of a second toy car upon reaching its final height.
This sets the car on its track, which will carry it downward towards the next step.

The second car will fall off the end of the track, hitting a seesaw-like contraption on its
way down to do the press the button of the CD player below it. As one end of the seesaw
lowers due to the second toy car falling, the other end will rise and strike a third toy car,
sending it down its track.

When the third toy car reaches the end of its track, it strikes the pendulum block, which is
attached to a single hinge it can rotate about freely. When the third toy car hits the
pendulum, it will rotate downwards and hit a trigger.

The trigger is a second seesaw-like object that rotates on a vertical axis. The purpose of
the trigger is to hold the “hammer” device back so that it does not swing early. When hit
by the pendulum it will rotate and allow the “hammer” to swing freely.

The “hammer” is simply a spring-loaded device that will rotate, exerting a huge moment.
The trigger will release it, allowing it to swing and strike the wheel.

The wheel is simply a wheel with panels protruding from its sides. The “hammer” strikes
one panel, causing the other rotate upwards and trigger the next team’s device.
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Bill of Materials
Toy car launcher
Toy cars
Cup
Pulley
Block weight
Track
Seesaw made from K’nex
CD player
Pendulum
Trigger made from K’nex
Hotwheels toy (“hammer”)
Wheel
Launches first car
Different uses
Catches first car and pull pulley
Holds string for it to rotate
Pushes second car down track
Allows cars to roll
Transfers energy from 2nd falling toy car to 3rd
toy car
Electrical device triggered
Transfers energy from 3rd car to trigger
Releases “hammer” when hit by pendulum
Swings with large moment to strike wheel
Rotates to trigger next team’s device
All materials pre-owned.
Test Results
The device completed its final goal in less than one minute, it was very sensitive, each
step was completed easily. The system was very efficient, though there were many obstacles to
overcome, however we eventually overcame them. Overall, the entire device performed well, it
was fairly consistent compared to others.
Conclusions
The Rube-Goldberg device worked very well by the time we done making our different
creative additions. Because we all had different strengths and creative differences, the device
became very diverse. I wouldn’t change anything about it if I got the chance.
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