The Abstracter

By: Timothy Harris, Aditya Katawa, Collin Tarleton,

Zack Griggy, and Rachel Houlihan

Calculations And Steps

Step 1: The wedge is pulled out from underneath the first iron ball, causing it to start rolling.
Step 2: The ball rolls down the ramp towards the pulleys. (Inclined Plane) : PEg=mgh
PEg= 0.014 kg (9.8 m/s2) (0.0127m)
PEg= 0.0017J
Step 3: The iron ball falls into the first pulley, causing the attached cup to rise.
(Pulley) : MA = number of threads attached to load MA=1
F=ma F= .014 kg (9.8 m/s2) F=0.1372N
Step 4: The rising cup collides with the second first class lever, causing the lever end to rise and the ball rolling down the lever arm.
Delta KE = Delta PE = mgh
KE = 0.009 kg (9.8m/s2)(0.0381m)
KE = 0.003 J

Calculations And Steps (Continued)

Step 5: The smaller marble hits a foosball transferring all its momentum if it is an elastic collision, but in
this case, not all momentum is transferred.
Step 6: The foosball drops 10.16 centimeters onto the first class lever.
Step 7: The lever pushes a small, wooden piece which in turn pushes a foosball into the cup of the
wheel and axle.
MA ideal of the lever= d effort/ d load
MA ideal=.1481 m/.2075 m
MA ideal= .71 MA
Step 8: In this step, the force of the foosball causes the wheel and axle to turn.

Calculations And Steps (Continued 2)

Step 9: The wheel and axle system rotates, thereby causing the rod attached to the wheel to rotate and push the metal track upwards.
W=Fd

Foosballs Mass: 0.0263kg

W= .2577N (.0127m)

F=ma

W= .0033 J

F= .0263kg (9.8m/s2)
F=.2577N

Step 10: The iron ball rolls down the tube after the track is pushed upwards.
V=d/t
V=.6096m/.86s
V=.709m/s
Step 11: The marble hits the three inch tall domino, knocking over more pieces. This is an inelastic collision because both dominoes
continue moving and the initial momentum is shared by both dominoes.
Step 12: The last three and a half inch tall domino knocks over the cup filled with a mixture of water and paint, splattering on the easel.

Energy Transfers
TThe first energy transfer occurs when the wedge is removed, which results in the marbles potential energy being
converted to kinetic energy
Our next energy transfer is located within step 4, where the rising cup collides with the lever arm of the first-class lever.
Our third energy transfer is located within step 5, in which the metal ball hits the foosball and transfers its momentum.
The fourth energy transfer is located within step 7, where the moving wooden piece collides with the foosball, pushing it into
the cup of the wheel and axle.
The fifth energy transfer takes place within step 9, where the wooden rod hits the metal track and raises it.
Our sixth energy transfer occurs within step 11, where the iron ball collides with the first domino and sets of the domino
chain.
Our seventh and final energy transfer occurs in step 12, where the last domino knocks over the water-paint mixture in the
cup onto the easel.

Planning Days
Day 1: We thought of what kinds of steps we would have,
what our final task would be, and what materials we had to bring in.

Day 2: We brought materials we needed in class and

started making our schematics. We started making the schematic
that we used for the majority of the project.

Day 3: We finished making the schematic we started on day 2.

Our Final Schematic

From our original schematic, the major changes have
been in our final paint dispersal system, especially in the
tube which we were initially using as a screw, and our
mass that would turn the wheel and axle, which was
initially going to be water, but instead, it was changed
into a foosball. Other minor changes included the
exclusion of the water tube, the cart, and the adjustment
of the third lever.

Build Process
Once we finished our schematics, we immediately began building. After we screwed
in our first ramp, we realized that the ramp was on the wrong side which meant the whole
schematic would have to be mirrored in the opposite direction. We just decided to keep
going even though we had to flip it. We had many problems along the way including
building the easel. The wood we chose was very strong and we accidentally broke off two
different screws inside. Probably our largest trouble was the time constraints we were
given. We have had to redesign the ending twice in order to be able to fit within the time
limit even though we ended up being late anyways. It was hard and it took some time,
but in the end, we are all happy with the result..

Presentation Planning
We spent all three of our presentation planning days split up in two groups, with one group working on
actually finishing our Rube Goldberg, which was finished yesterday after school. The other group was
working on gathering the content and format of the presentation, which proved to be quite efficient. On the
first day, we started to write down our construction log, as well as beginning our calculations and steps.
The next day was spent the same way, and in the third day, we finished the logs, steps, calculations, and
transfers.