Rube Goldberg Machine
A Rube Goldberg machine accomplishes a simple task through an absurdly complicated chain reaction. Each stage converts energy from one form to another — potential to kinetic, kinetic to rotational — cascading through balls, dominoes, seesaws, ramps, and pulleys. Press Start and watch physics do the work. The energy bar tracks conservation through every stage.
How it works
The machine uses simplified 2D physics: gravity pulls objects down, balls roll on ramps with friction, dominoes topple via torque, and seesaws rotate around pivot points. Each collision transfers momentum. The simulation runs with a fixed timestep and simple Euler integration.
Energy conservation
E = mgh + ½mv² — the total mechanical energy of the system. In an ideal system, energy is perfectly conserved. Here, small amounts are lost to collisions and friction, but you can track the total through each stage.
The 8 stages
1. Ball rolls down ramp → 2. Hits dominoes → 3. Last domino hits ball → 4. Ball drops onto seesaw → 5. Seesaw launches ball upward → 6. Ball rolls down second ramp → 7. Ball drops into bucket (pulls rope) → 8. Flag rises.