Da Balloon Popper

Team Cookies ‘n’ Cream Theodora Asafo- adjei Zach Cobb Tanaysha Mapp Brad Wilke

Overview Our Rude Goldberg device uses four irrelevant steps to perform the very simple task of popping a balloon. Our Rude Goldberg device uses four irrelevant steps to perform the very simple task of popping a balloon. Each step has stored energy in the form of gravitational potential energy. The GPE of each step is converted to kinetic energy by the preceding step. Each step has stored energy in the form of gravitational potential energy. The GPE of each step is converted to kinetic energy by the preceding step. Removing the weight on the “seesaw” releases the GPE of the first step, causing a chain reaction that ends with a balloon being popped. Removing the weight on the “seesaw” releases the GPE of the first step, causing a chain reaction that ends with a balloon being popped.

First Step This is where the process begins. There is a weight holding one end of the “seesaw” down and removing the weight causes the opposite end to drop. This is where the process begins. There is a weight holding one end of the “seesaw” down and removing the weight causes the opposite end to drop.

Second Step When the “seesaw” drops it pulls down on the wooden arm, thus releasing the wooden ball. When the “seesaw” drops it pulls down on the wooden arm, thus releasing the wooden ball.

Third Step The wooden ball is directed into a hole and onto a declining slope. The ball then rolls down the track. The wooden ball is directed into a hole and onto a declining slope. The ball then rolls down the track.

Fourth Step The ball rolls off the track and into the support beam of the pendulum. The pendulum is then released and swings down with a thumb tack inserted in it towards the balloon. The ball rolls off the track and into the support beam of the pendulum. The pendulum is then released and swings down with a thumb tack inserted in it towards the balloon.

Demonstration Brace yourself for what may be the most spectacular thing you ever witnessed. (even Lazydog was amazed) Brace yourself for what may be the most spectacular thing you ever witnessed. (even Lazydog was amazed)

Conclusion What our machine performed might not be amazing or a new invention but it taught us how to work as a team. Communication and the ability to interact with fellow engineers and co-workers is vital to anyone in the engineering field. We were able to see the effects of GPE and utilize it to create our device. We went through a lot of trial and error but we brought everything together at the end. What our machine performed might not be amazing or a new invention but it taught us how to work as a team. Communication and the ability to interact with fellow engineers and co-workers is vital to anyone in the engineering field. We were able to see the effects of GPE and utilize it to create our device. We went through a lot of trial and error but we brought everything together at the end.