Get Set Grow

Event Year: 2025
Event Location: Cocoa-FL
Competition: Energy Transfer Machine
Division: 3-5
School: Orlando Science Elementary
Team Name: Team Bloom
Project Name: Get Set Grow
Team Size: 1

Hello Everyone! 

My name is Anika. I am in 3^rd grade at Orlando Science Elementary School. For Energy Whiz competition, I am building an Energy Transfer Machine which can water plant. My project is based on Rube Goldberg machine principles. Before digging in my project let me brief you with the concepts, mechanism and principles of ETM. 

What is Energy Transfer Machine? 

An ETM is a device that is designed to move energy from one source/ form to another or transfer energy from one location to another. 

There are three main components of ETM 

1. Energy Sources: These machines can take energy from sources like batteries, solar panels, or fuels. 

2. Energy Forms: They can transfer energy in various forms such as electrical energy, mechanical energy, Thermal energy etc. 

3. Purpose: The main purpose of ETM is to move or convert energy to be used for different application such as powering devices, heating spaces or moving objects. 

Example:  

• Batteries store chemical energy, and it release it as electrical energy 

• Electric Motor convert electrical energy into mechanical energy to power machines. 

What is the basic principle behind functioning of my Energy Transfer Machine? 

1. Conservation Of Energy: According to this principle energy cannot be created of destroyed. Input Energy = Output Energy-Any Losses (such as friction or heat) 

2. Energy Conversion: Energy can change from one form to another. Machines like Electric Motors covert electrical energy into mechanical energy while generators do the opposite. 

3. Work and Force: The work is accomplished when a force acts upon an object to move it over distance 

4. Mechanical Advantage and Efficiency: Machines can use mechanical advantage like levers or pulley to make work easier and more efficient. 

What is Rube Goldberg machine? 

It is a deliberately complicated device that performs a simple task in an indirect and overly convoluted fashion. Named after the American cartoonist and inventor Rube Goldberg, these machines are often humorous and ingenious, showcasing creativity and engineering principles in a whimsical way. Building these machines encourages understanding of physics, engineering, and problem-solving.  It also promotes creativity, innovation, and thinking outside the box. 

 Rube Goldberg Machine for switching on the TV 

Key Characteristics: 
1. Complexity for Simplicity: The main purpose of a Rube Goldberg machine is that it takes a very simple action—like turning on a light switch, popping a balloon, or pouring a cup of coffee—and executes it through a series of complex steps and interactions. 

 
2. Chain Reactions: The machine typically operates on principles of chain reactions, where one action triggers the next. Common elements include falling dominos, rolling balls, levers, pulleys, and other gadgets that work together to achieve the final goal. 
 
3. Humor and Creativity: Rube Goldberg machines are celebrated for their whimsical designs and often humorous concepts. They can incorporate everyday items in unexpected ways, leading to surprising and entertaining outcomes. 
 

Objective of my Project 

• To understand the law of conservation of energy. 

• To explain the energy transfers in the machine 

• To explain how simple machines work together to create larger complex machinery 

• To use the engineering design process to complete a task 

• To design, build, test, troubleshoot, modify and complete a “Rube Goldberg” type machine. 

Materials Used in My Project  

• Pegboard 

• Wooden Dowels  

• 1 AA battery operated fan 

• Toy cars 

• Marbles 

• Track  

• Dominos 

• Tennis ball 

• Balloon  

• Plant in the pot 

• Disposable cups & bottles 

• construction equipment such as scissors, hot glue gun, duct tape, masking tape, clear tape, twine, zip, ties, wire, cardboard boxes & tube. 

• Other related and decorative material 

My Machine in Action:  

Don’t you think it’s boring to water the plants by hand every day? So, I have come with a fun and educational way to water my plant and help them grow. I built a 10-step Energy Transfer Machine, and each step uses a type of energy conversion.  

1. When I switch on the fan (Chemical energy gets converted to electrical energy and moves the motor)  

2. It pulls up the string tied to wedge (Electrical Energy gets converted to Kinetic Energy).  

3. When the wedge moves up it releases the toy car down the track (Gravitational potential energy to Kinetic energy)  

4. When the toy car moves down it knocks the box of marble making it roll down the cardboard tube (Potential energy to Kinetic Energy creating Sound Energy) 

5. The force and vibration of marble will move the car down the track (Gravitational Potential energy to Kinetic Energy) 

6. The car will hit the dominos and make it fall (Kinetic Energy to Potential Energy)  

7. The dominos will hit the golf ball and make it fall down the tunnel (Gravitational Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy) 

8. The golf ball will hit the balloon filled with water. (Gravitational Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy) 

9. The balloon will roll down over the spiky area. (Gravitational Potential Energy in action) 

10. The balloon will pop and water the plant.