How to Make a Rube Goldberg Machine
A Rube Goldberg machine is any complex contraption that uses a chain reaction to perform a simple task.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Step 1: Start at the End
Identify the simple task you want to achieve. You could turn off a light, open a door, pour a bowl of cereal, turn off an alarm clock, hammer a nail or pop a balloon. Be creative — and unique.
Step 2: Make a Plan
Brainstorm a series of actions that will complete your task. Make a pin pop a balloon. Send a toy car down a ramp. Make dominoes fall. Draw a blueprint plan for what you expect to happen. The most important action will be the first step — that’s what starts the entire machine. Make sure your machine starts with a bang!
Step 3: Gather Your Materials
You can use almost anything to create your Rube Goldberg machine. Here are some ideas: dominoes, fans, PVC pipe, magnets, duct tape, marbles, cups or bowls, miniature toy cars, paper towel tubes, string.
Step 4: Build and Test
As you create your machine, follow your blueprint and place your materials where you think they need to be. Practice makes perfect, so don’t expect your Rube Goldberg machine to work perfectly the first time you try it. There will be plenty of trial and error — and that’s OK. Adjust your materials and keep at it.
10 WORKING RUBE GOLDBERG MACHINES
Here are videos of 10 working Rube Goldberg machines. If you make one of your own, use the form below to send us photos.
The machines were cool but it would’ve been better if the creators actually told us how to make them.
This doesn’t help it doesn’t tell you it dose nothing
amazing!!!!!!!
i think this is really good
nice
cool
I love the idea, soon im going to make one of my own!
It hit my thinking hard
I only used 2 items cause its easy to open doors.
awsome
i loved this projekt
this is awsome i really like this.
cool
ITS PRETY CRAZY THAT ALL 6 SIMPLE MACHINES WERE USED IN THESE VIDS
I like the harlem globetrotters one
I think its nice
Cool
this is awesome
am I the only one that needs lots of help on this (its for school)
Same here! Do u have any advice?
Try and do something simple don’t make it more then it needs to be
no
WOW THIS IS AWESOME!
wowww these are awesome!
Cool
Thank you!
no i does not help me at all it does not even explain what the machine is
Dude that literally amazed me!
dis is really cool
THAT IS SO COOL!
Wow I’m impressed with some of these! Keep up the good work kids.
Why is this only directed towards boys? Anyone regardless can build a Rube Goldberg machine
I agree
This is super cool
do you need lots of balls or marbles?
WOW!!!!!
yes I need a lot of marble
These are cool👍
i think this great. problem is they wernt explaning theyr ideas to us and not really telling us hw they constructed it
Just… GIVE ME INSTRUCTIONS NOW!
I think this manufacturer or machine never really fantastic that kind of cool.
I agree with what you are saying.
I think it was cool of learning this machine I’m excited that just kind of fantastic.
cool
They are good but I still don’t get it he does not even really explain it
It is cool
this is bad
Dude perfect!
nice ideas!!!!
waow
Its me isaac…..lol
this is awesome!!!
awesome!
I really liked this. It gave me an idea of making my own. If I do make some I will keep you posted.