1. Chain Reaction Challenge
VEX IQ Curriculum
Lesson Materials:
Student Handout Pencils or pens
VEX IQ Simple Machines & Motion Sample Assemblies Instructions
VEX IQ Kit Hardware & Components (as needed for chosen lessons) String (for pulley assembly)
Controller and Robot Brain (as needed for chosen lessons)
Rube Goldberg Challenge Idea Book Pages Internet access – optional Additional paper - optional
Chain Reaction Challenge
Lesson 05

2. Project Overview Its Your Future Let’s Get Started Your First Robot
Simple Machines & Motion
Chain Reaction Challenge
Key Concepts
Mechanisms
Highrise Challenge
Smart Machines
Chain Reaction Programming Challenge
Smarter Machines
Highrise Programming Challenge

3. CHAIN REACTION DEVICE
The purpose of this unit is for students to design and build a Chain Reaction Device to rubric specifications .
In this unit you will use a series of simple machine and/or pendulum assemblies to create Chain Reaction Devices. Each individual simple machine/pendulum assembly is known as a Stage of the overall device. Students will also build and/or design at least one Trigger Mechanism to activate the operation/chain reaction of their device(s) in this unit.
Lesson Purpose:
The purpose of this lesson is for students to design and build a Chain Reaction Device to rubric specifications (either unpowered, powered, or both).

4. Evaluation Chain Reaction 1 and 2
LESSON 05 STARTER
Prints out for the lesson
Build Instructions
Student hand-out
Teacher US guide sheet
Idea Book
Evaluation Chain Reaction 1 and 2

5. LESSON 05 Goldberg Device Lesson Vocabulary: Chain Reaction Device
Stage
Trigger Mechanism

6. LESSON 05 STARTER What is a Chain Reaction Device?
Learning objective: Learn key terminology related to Chain Reaction Device. Apply knowledge of Simple Machines and Pendulums. Utilise the design process in building their own Chain Reaction Device
What is a Chain Reaction Device?
A Chain Reaction Device is a complex machine that performs a very simple task in a very complicated way, usually including a chain reaction. A Chain Reaction is a series of events so related to each other that each event triggers the next event. The device name comes from American cartoonist and inventor Rube Goldberg who published many cartoon drawings of such devices.
Learning Objectives:
Students will apply knowledge of Simple Machines and Pendulums.
Students will learn key terminology related to Chain Reaction Device.
Students will follow assembly instructions to build a sample Chain Reaction Device.
Students will utilize design process in building their own Chain Reaction Device(s).

7. CHAIN REACTION DEVICE Task 1: Assembling the Sample Goldberg Device
Your teacher may instruct you to assemble and test the sample unpowered Chain Reaction Device next. If so, please use the Sample Chain Reaction Device Assembly Instructions provided by your teacher.

8. CHAIN REACTION DEVICE
Task 2: The Chain Reaction Challenge Rules: Parking the car
Challenge Goal & Overview:
The goal is to successfully build a Chain Reaction Device that successfully parks the car in the garage. Your teacher will provide you with or ask you to build the car and garage models to be used in this challenge. You will work together in teams.

9. CHAIN REACTION DEVICE
Challenge Rules for Unpowered Chain Reaction Device
1) Build a four-stage Chain Reaction Device that parks the car in the garage.
2) Your Chain Reaction Device will be unpowered - no motors, no robot brain, no controller.
3) Use three or more of the following to construct your stages: Wheel & Axle, Inclined Plane, Wedge, Lever, Pulley, Screw, or Pendulum. You may use some of the simple machines/pendulum above more than once if you wish.
4) Please see the Rubric? Chain Reaction? to Evaluate Unpowered Chain Reaction Device for all of the details on how you will be evaluated.

10. CHAIN REACTION DEVICE
Challenge Rules for Powered Chain Reaction Device 1. Build a four-stage Chain Reaction Device that parks the car in the garage.
2. Your Chain Reaction Device will be powered – using three or more motors, robot brain, and controller. You will be expected to teleoperate your device with the controller.
3. Use three or more of the following to construct your stages: - Wheel & Axle, Inclined Plane, Wedge, Lever, Pulley, Screw, or Pendulum. - You may use some of the simple machines/pendulum above more than once if you wish.
4. NO sensors are used and NO programming is required for this challenge.
5. Please see the Rubric to Evaluate Powered Chain Reaction Device for all of the details on how you will be evaluated.
6. Idea Book Pages can be used for planning and troubleshooting. Your teacher will provide further instructions on using the Idea Book Pages.

11. LESSON 05 PLENARY
As a class, let us consider the following questions? A. What is a Chain Reaction Device?
B. Name one of the stages you designed, which mechanism did you use and how did it fit into your device?
C. How is each stage of your device triggered? D. If you were able to redesign your device, what changes would you make?

12. SUMMARY Today you have:
Learning objective: Learn key terminology related to Chain Reaction Devices. Apply knowledge of Simple Machines and Pendulums. Utilise the design process in building their own Chain Reaction Device
Today you have:
Learnt key terminology related to Chain Reaction Device.
Applied knowledge of Simple Machines and Pendulums.
Utilised the design process in building their own Chain Reaction Device