Rube Goldberg Vocab

1. The counterweight is raised, storing potential energy. When released, the counterweight falls, causing the arm to swing upward rapidly.
4. A thing that starts an action.
6. The rate of change of position of an object in any direction. This is a scalar quantity as it has only direction and no magnitude.
9. As the arm swings, the potential energy from the counterweight is converted into kinetic energy, accelerating the arm and the sling.
12. A weight that, by applying an opposite force, provides balance and stability of a mechanical system.
13. To perform an action again and again.
17. A medieval siege engine that uses a lever and a counterweight to hurl heavy projectiles.It converts the potential energy of a falling counterweight into kinetic energy.
18. Amount of movement of an object as related to its mass.
19. A series of events in which one event causes another event.
21. To move or change from one to another.

2. The sling whips around the end of the arm, and at a specific point, the projectile is released at high velocity towards the target.
3. Exact and accurate.
5. The trebuchet's arm pivots on a fulcrum. The shorter end holds a heavy counterweight. The longer end holds a sling with the projectile.
7. The rate at which an object's velocity changes, which can be due to changes in speed, direction, or both.
8. Energy of something in motion.
10. A machine that uses stored energy to launch projectiles, ranging from ancient siege engines for hurling large stones to modern devices like aircraft carriers.
11. The measure of the three-dimensional space an object occupies and is measured in cubic units, such as cubic feet or cubic meters.
14. A point of support on which a lever balances, like the pivot of a seesaw.
15. Stored energy of an object at rest based on where it is in relation to other objects.
16. A push or pull that acts on an object.
18. In physics, its a measure of an object's resistance to acceleration.
20. The resistance to motion that slows an object down.