Rube Goldberg machine facts for kids
A Rube Goldberg machine is a special kind of machine that looks super complicated but actually does something very simple. Imagine a machine that takes ten steps to just turn on a light switch! That's the idea. People use the phrase "Rube Goldberg machine" to describe anything that does an easy job in a really complex way.
This fun expression is named after an American inventor and cartoonist named Rube Goldberg (who lived from 1883 to 1970). He was famous for drawing these wacky, over-the-top machines in his cartoons.
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What is a Rube Goldberg Machine?
A Rube Goldberg machine is designed to perform a simple task, like pouring a glass of water or closing a door, through a long and indirect chain reaction. Each step in the machine triggers the next step, creating a domino effect.
How Do They Work?
These machines use many different parts and steps to achieve their goal. For example, a ball might roll down a ramp, hit a lever, which then pulls a string, which tips over a cup, and so on. The key is that each action leads to the next in a creative and often funny way.
The Chain Reaction
The magic of a Rube Goldberg machine is its chain reaction. One small action starts a series of events. It's like setting up a line of dominoes, where pushing the first one makes all the others fall. In these machines, the "dominoes" can be anything from falling weights to spinning wheels or even water flowing through tubes.
Who Was Rube Goldberg?
Rube Goldberg was born in 1883 and became a very famous cartoonist. He loved to draw funny pictures of machines that did simple things in the most complicated ways possible. His cartoons were so popular that his name became linked to these types of inventions.
Goldberg's Cartoons
In his cartoons, Goldberg often showed a character named Professor Butts. This professor would invent these crazy machines to solve everyday problems. For example, he might draw a machine to help you get dressed in the morning, involving birds, balloons, and even a goat! These drawings made people laugh and think about how we sometimes make things harder than they need to be.
The "Self-Operating Napkin"
One of Rube Goldberg's most famous cartoons was called "Professor Butts and the Self-Operating Napkin." This drawing showed a very elaborate machine designed just to wipe a person's mouth after eating. It involved a cracker, a parrot, a string, and many other parts, all working together to move a napkin. This cartoon perfectly showed what a Rube Goldberg machine is all about.
Building Your Own Rube Goldberg Machine
Many people enjoy building their own Rube Goldberg machines as a fun challenge. It takes creativity, planning, and a bit of engineering skill. You have to think about how each part will interact with the next to keep the chain reaction going.
Common Materials to Use
You can use all sorts of everyday items to build a Rube Goldberg machine. Some popular choices include:
- Balls (like marbles or golf balls)
- Ramps and tracks
- Levers and pulleys
- Dominoes
- Toy cars
- String and tape
- Cups and containers
Planning Your Machine
When you build a machine, it's a good idea to plan it out first. You can draw a diagram of each step and figure out what materials you'll need. Sometimes, the hardest part is making sure every step works perfectly so the machine doesn't stop halfway through!
Rube Goldberg Competitions
Because these machines are so much fun to design, there are even competitions where people build and show off their creations. Teams work together to make the most creative and effective Rube Goldberg machines.
The Challenge
In these competitions, teams are usually given a specific simple task to achieve, like turning off a light or watering a plant. They then have to design and build a machine that completes this task in a certain number of steps, often with rules about the types of materials they can use.
Creativity and Teamwork
Building a Rube Goldberg machine for a competition is a great way to use your imagination and work with others. It teaches you about physics, problem-solving, and how to keep trying even when things don't work perfectly the first time.
Images for kids
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Rube Goldberg machine designers participating in a competition in New Mexico
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George Rhoads' kinetic art sculptures, such as Archimedean Excogitation (pictured), share many elements with Rube Goldberg machines.
See also
- Chain reaction
- Domino effect
- Simple machine
In Spanish: Máquina de Rube Goldberg para niños
