The Badge Archive

Fulfills Step 5 of GSUSA Senior Cybersecurity Basics badge requirements.

Info Needed for the badge requirements: Minimization reduces risks, such as removing unnecessary features or deleting unused apps to limit entry points for hackers. Simplicity in design makes products easier to use and problems easier to fix, improving reliability and security. While Rube Goldberg Machines are fun to create and watch, they prioritize complexity over efficiency.

Items Needed

• 1 balloon (inflated and tied)
• String or yarn
• Dominoes or small blocks (25–50 pieces)
• A small ball (e.g., marble or ping pong ball)
• Paper towel or toilet paper tubes (4–6 tubes)
• Tape
• Scissors
• Ramp materials (e.g., cardboard, books, or boxes)
• A pushpin, pencil, or other small sharp object (tape securely to the machine to safely pop the balloon)

Instructions

1. Scouts brainstorm individually or in small teams to design a machine that will pop a balloon using a chain reaction.
2. Each scout or team sketches out their ideas to ensure the steps connect logically.
3. Scouts start collecting materials and building their machines. Encourage scouts to incorporate fun and complex steps, like a pulley system, pinwheel, or domino effects. Possible components might include:
   • A chain of dominoes to knock over the ball.
   • The ball rolling down a ramp and triggering a string to pull the sharp object toward the balloon.
4. Once complete, test the machine to see if it successfully pops the balloon.
   • (Optional) If it doesn’t work as intended, scout teams analyze the design, make improvements, and try again.