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Rube-Goldberg Machine

This was a project I completed for a Science Olympiad competition at my school. In order to maximize points, the goal was to complete as many tasks using as little volume as possible. Below is a picture and description of my final machine.

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The Rube-Goldberg machine works according to the following steps:

1. A magnet is released and a weight falls to complete the circuit, which allows for completion of the next step.

2. The motor spins and raises a 500-gram weight until it hits a switch, which opens this circuit and completes the next one.

3. The circuit raises an additional-500 gram weight until it flips a switch, closes this circuit and completes the following circuit.

4. Power is supplied to an electromagnet, which pulls the cover (taped to a nail) from a photodiode, exposing it to the surrounding light.

5. Light exposure of the photodiode triggers the recording device to say "The End," therefore signaling the completion of the mechanism.

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