How to Make a Rube Goldbergs Inventions
Rube Goldberg's inventions or machines are devices intended to perform a simple task. The distinguishing characteristic of a Rube Goldberg invention is the method used to perform the task. These inventions accomplish the simple task through a series of elaborate steps that have nothing to do with the function of the device. Most of the components are there to activate elements of the invention. The ingenuity in a Rube Goldberg invention has to do with developing progressively more elaborate ways of accomplishing a simple task.
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide what simple task the machine should perform; for example, opening blinds or hitting the snooze button of an alarm clock.
-
2
Determine what specific action needs to be done to accomplish that goal. For the snooze button example this requires hitting the button with enough force to depress it. This might be accomplished by dropping a ball on the button or having a hammer strike it.
-
-
3
Develop a section of the Rube Goldberg invention to accomplish that particular task. A ball could travel down a track into a funnel positioned directly above the button.
-
4
Determine what specific action needs to be done in order to activate that section of the machine. The example ball on the track might be blown into movement by a hair dryer.
-
5
Develop a section of the machine that will start the section that follows it.
-
6
Repeat Step 4 and Step 5 to add more sections to the machine. This can be done to make the machine as elaborate as desired.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The board game Mouse Trap is a good example of a Rube Goldberg invention. A good place to get ideas for Rube Goldberg invention sections is to watch other inventions in progress. The videos in Resources both have a wide range of inventive sections.
