A Rube Goldberg Invention

Rube Goldberg

This is Webster’s definition:A contrivance or method to accomplish

an apparently simple task in an extremely complex way

So much for the K.I.S.S. method!

(Keep It Simple Sweetie)

Who was Rube Goldberg?

He lived at the turn of the last century.

He loved poking fun at all of the “modern” conveniences that were being developed at the beginning of the 20th century.

A little more about Mr.Goldberg…

Reuben Lucius Goldberg studied at the University of California at Berkeley.

After graduating in 1904, he started working as a sports cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle.

In 1907 he moved to New York after selling his Sunday half-page strip 'Mike and Ike'. This comic didn't generated much response.

He eventually landed a job at the New York Evening Mail.

Apart from drawing comics, he also took a shot at vaudeville, becoming a stand-up comedian and fortune-teller in 1911!

Rube Goldberg gets his think-tank working and evolves the simplified pencil-sharpener.

Open window (A) and fly kite (B).  String (C) lifts small door (D) allowing moths (E) to escape and eat red flannel shirt (F).   As weight of shirt becomes less, shoe (G) steps on switch (H) which heats electric iron (I) and burns hole in pants (J).   Smoke (K) enters hole in tree (L), smoking out opossum (M) which jumps into basket (N), pulling rope (O) and lifting cage (P), allowing woodpecker (Q) to chew wood from pencil (R), exposing lead.  Emergency knife (S) is always handy in case opossum or the woodpecker gets sick and can't work.

Rube Goldberg has inspired many inventors….

Enjoy this short movie It’s meant to be an elaborate way to get

a very simple thing done

Safety Device for Walking on Icy Sidewalks

Simple Machines Rube Golberg used a variety of simple

machines put together in a complex way to perform a simple task.

What is a Simple Machine? A simple machine

has few or no moving parts.

Simple machines make work easier

Simple MachinesLeversPulleys Inclined planesWedgeScrewWheel and axle

Simple MachinesAre used to hunt, gather plants, make

clothes, build shelter, and protectionThey copy nature such as:

Beavers cutting logs Woodpeckers pecking on a tree trunk Moles clawing their way through the dirt

LeversLevers make it easier for people to lift

heavy objects or open things.The object being moved or opened is

called the load.The force that is exerted is the effort.Fulcrum is the fixed point that allows a

pivot to occur. In every lever there is an ELF.

Levers-First Class In a first class lever

the fulcrum is in the middle and the load and effort is on either side

Think of a see-saw

Levers-Second Class In a second class

lever the fulcrum is at the end, with the load in the middle

Think of a wheelbarrow

Levers-Third Class In a third class lever

the fulcrum is again at the end, but the effort is in the middle

Think of a pair of tweezers

Inclined Planes An inclined plane is a

flat surface that is higher on one end

Inclined planes make the work of moving things easier

Ramps are inclined planes

You must travel a greater distance

Screws A screw is an

inclined plane wrapped around a shaft or cylinder.

The inclined plane allows the screw to move itself when rotated.

Wedges Two inclined

planes joined back to back.

Wedges are used to split things.

Wheels and Axles The wheel and axle

are a simple machine

The axle is a rod that goes through the wheel which allows the wheel to turn

Gears are a form of wheels and axles

Pulleys Pulley are wheels

and axles with a groove around the outside

A pulley needs a rope, chain or belt around the groove to make it do work

Gears A wheel with teeth Used to transfer

power One gear cannot

work on its own Many gears are

connected with chains

Compound Machines Simple Machines

can be put together in different ways to make complex machinery.

Yay! Check out this link!Ruby Awards

Here are Some Pictures to Spark Creativity…

Check This Out!This Too Shall Pass