Project 1: Rube Goldberg Device

Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist who drew very elaborate and wacky designs for performing simple tasks. These were deliberately over-engineered or overdone devices that performed a very simple task in a very complex fashion. In fact, the dictionary defines Rube Goldberg as follows: Of, relating to, or being a contrivance that brings about by complicated means what apparently could have been accomplished simply.

Your team (3 or 4 people) will build a Rube Goldberg device. You will compete against the other teams in the class.

Educational Goal: To gain experience in the following: executing the design process, making simple devices that work, utilizing a decision matrix, logging design activities