The Balloon Inflator – Rube Goldberg Project

 

The Steps:

  1. Two magnets with like-poles are used to start the car’s motion.
  2. The car rolls down the inclined plane and comes to a halt.
  3. The front of the car hits the jar filled with screws, acting as a weight.
  4. The jar falls down, causing the tube to fall with it. This is done with help from the pulley.
  5. The vinegar gets incorporated the baking soda stored at the top of the tube in a cloth, causing a chemical reaction. This creates carbon dioxide gas.
  6. The balloon gets inflated with the gas created.

The Types of Simple Machines:

  1. Wheel and axle – The wheels used on the car

2. Inclined plane – Allows the car to accelerate

3. Pulley – Causes the tube to fall with the jar

Types of Energy :

  1. Magnetic Energy – Two magnets are used to push the car forward
  2. Mechanical Energy – The wheel and axle and inclined plane work together to help the car move
  3. Gravitational Energy –  The jar and tube fall down with the help of the pulley because of gravity
  4. Chemical Energy – The vinegar and baking soda get incorporated, causing a chemical reaction
  5. Elastic Energy – The carbon dioxide inflates the balloon, stretching the material.

Energy Transfers :

  1. Magnetic Energy to Mechanical Energy – The magnets move the car leading to the inclined plane, using the wheel and axle
  2. Mechanical Energy to Gravitational Energy – The car hits the jar, causing it to fall
  3. Gravitational Energy to Chemical Energy – The tube falls which triggers the chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda
  4. Chemical Energy to Elastic Energy – The carbon dioxide created from the chemical reaction inflates the balloon