TERESA MASK DETROIT FREE PRESS - The instructions were a bit out of the
ordinary: The more energy you waste, the better your chance of getting a
passing grade. It was the kind of assignment that would have made Rube
Goldberg smile. The physics projects were unveiled just before winter
break at Cranbrook Kingswood's annual Rube Goldberg Day in Bloomfield
Hills, honoring the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, author and
sculptor known for his wacky contraptions that performed both
meaningless and simple tasks. . .
The machines had to undergo at least five energy transformations lasting
10 to 60 seconds. And as a twist, they had to perform one of the
following tasks: swat flies, raise banners, turn on CD players or play a
musical instrument. Only household items such as toys, toilet paper
rolls, funnels and duct tape could be used.