The Denver Post – Ann Butler
“Families of freshmen at Animas High School have found it difficult to make breakfast during the last month or so. The students borrowed coffee makers, toasters, waffle irons, pancake griddles and even cereal and milk to create their Rube Goldberg machines — a complex and creative way to achieve simple tasks. The project was part of teacher Brian Morgan’s physics and earth sciences class. To make their machines, they used springs, gears, pulleys, wheels, dominoes, ramps, levers, mousetraps, funnels, ball bearings, marbles, golf balls and parts from games, not to mention duct tape, lots of duct tape. But the lesson wasn’t the task; it was a hands-on way to see how different physics principles work. “We learned about acceleration, force and transference,” said Emma Poitras, who, with partners Sierra DesPlanques and Ella Brown, created a 14-step toaster process. Their machine included a cellphone set to vibrate that kicked off the steps by pushing a ball bearing down a tube. “We also learned construction skills,” Emma said. “I didn’t even know what a drill bit was, and we used an electric saw, too.” The complexity of the machines reduced the effectiveness of the task completion. Some teams said their machines failed completely. Emma, Ella and Sierra’s machine managed to toast four slices of bread.”(more)