Device Overview Project Jag is a Rube-Goldberg device which utilizes gravity to perform the task of turning on a light bulb.

Energy Conversions Overview 1)The jaguar (not mini cooper) rolls down the incline 2)The elevated tennis ball swings to knock over the box 3)The battery falls through a funnel and hits the metal box which turns on the light bulb

Assumptions Friction neglected Velocity of battery falling through funnel is zero at point right before stem Air resistance neglected

Calculations Energy Equation 1  mgh=0.5mv^2  Masses cancel  gh=0.5v^2  (32.2ft/s^2)(0.21ft)=0.5(v ^2)  v=3.7ft/s Energy Equation 2  mgh=0.5mv^2  Masses cancel  gh=0.5v^2  (32.2ft/s^2)(0.5ft)=0.5(v^ 2)  v=5.7ft/s

Calculations Energy Equation 3 *Note, velocity will vary with height of table. Given formula is with height of test table.  mgh=0.5mv^2  Masses cancel  gh=0.5v^2  (32.2)(2.2ft)=0.5(v^2)  v=11.9ft/s

Demonstration

Problems Making sure we had all supplies we needed Figuring out a way to make the battery consistently fall into funnel Finding an object small enough to fit through a funnel but heavy enough to flip a switch

Conclusion Rube-Goldberg devices are complicated ways of doing simple tasks but good real life examples of physics at work Jaguars and mouse traps don’t mix