A Rube Goldberg Invention Rube Goldberg This is

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 20 th 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 Machines ® Levers ® Pulleys ® Inclined planes ® Wedge ® Screw ® Wheel and axle

Simple Machines ® Are used to hunt, gather plants, make clothes, build shelter, and protection ® They copy nature such as: ® Beavers cutting logs ® Woodpeckers pecking on a tree trunk ® Moles clawing their way through the dirt

Levers ® Levers 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