Device Overview

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

Energy Conversions Overview1) The jaguar (not mini cooper) rolls down the

incline2) The elevated tennis ball swings to knock over

the box3) 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