Grier Rube-Goldberg Machine is Out-of-this-World

Creativity is one component of the complex machine’s design. Grier’s team opted to use an outer space theme, titled “Flying Saucers” that features planets and stars and lots of bright, primary colors. It is as though an event in space kick-starts a series of events that lead to a bowl of cereal being poured in a kitchen on Earth. 

In the initial step, a member of the team sets a pendulum into motion, launching a ball down a ramp, into a cup, followed by a series of ramps, cups, balls, and pendulums. A domino-effect of books depresses a toaster, which releases a spring-loaded effect, opens the refrigerator door, and causes cereal to pour down a chute into the bowl. While the milk did not pour during this run, the spoon successfully dropped right into the bowl!

The students mainly worked on this task during weekends and after school throughout the winter months under the guidance of Mrs. Kelly Forest, Head of the Science Department. Mrs. Forest’s husband, Dr. Chris Forest of Penn State’s Meteorology and Atmospheric Science Department, helped the students build the machine’s set. Students involved in this project are: Amy T., Heather P., Michelle S., Noah L., Brittany S., Christine Z, Caroline F., Melissa K., Ealing J. and Kristen C. It took many, many hours to bring this machine together.

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_{By R.Woolfrey | Photo credit: K.Barr}