<\/p>\n
The library at Cortez Middle School was filled with superfluous machines on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Eighth-graders created machines that accomplished a simple task in a complicated way to wrap up their 12-week science unit on energy and forces. The machines were inspired by Rube Goldberg, a cartoonist famous for depicting convoluted machines in his drawings. They were on display at the middle school\u2019s physics exhibition this week.<\/p>\n
Though Rube Goldberg machines might be unnecessary, CMS science teacher Brittany Lang said they demonstrate the physical forces students have learned about for the past semester.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re extremely creative and collaborative,\u201d Lang said.<\/p>\n
In the machine that Gabriel Padilla, Kael Buffington and Gavin Bennett created, a tennis ball knocked over a glass of milk, dumping it into a bowl of cereal. The machine also released a spoon into the bowl of cereal.<\/p>\n
Kael came up with the idea because he sometimes doesn\u2019t have time to eat breakfast in the morning, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took us about a week to build it, but we spent some time perfecting it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In Kylie Lake\u2019s and Amber Fuller\u2019s contraption, a pencil hanging from a straw was released when a flame melted the straw. The pencil dropped down and popped a balloon that was filled with paint. They took a day or two to come up with the idea, and it took them about four days to build, Kylie said.<\/p>\n
CMS principal Glenn Smith said it was the first time the school had put on an exhibition like this one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids are excited about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Science teacher Sara Margoles said it was a good way to bring the science unit to a close.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fun, hands-on, messy way to show what they have learned,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n