How to build a rube goldberg machine

A Rube Goldberg machine is a complex contraption designed to complete a simple task. The machine uses a set of tasks that work in succession and trigger one event after another until the final event. Imagine this: Your online school student drops a marble into a paper towel tube chute. The marble slides down and hits a chain of dominoes.

Rube goldberg machine examples

The dominoes fall, and the final one hits a small toy car. The car pushes a dog treat off the edge of the table. The family dog snatches up the treat when it falls to the floor. You might recognize Rube Goldberg machines from TV or movies. Some high school students build them in science class, and some even test their engineering skills by competing in Rube Goldberg machine contests.

It is an excellent way for online students to explore the world of STEM learning. A Rube Goldberg science project can take on many different shapes and sizes. Building a Rube Goldberg machine is a great hands-on activity for all ages; plus, it encourages children to flex their STEM muscles.