Rube Goldberg and the Meaning of Machines
An example Rube Goldberg contraption.
Simple and compound machines are designed to make work easier. When we encounter a machine that does not fit this understanding, the so-called machine seems absurd. Through the cartoons of Rube Goldberg, students are engaged in critical thinking about the way his inventions make simple tasks even harder to complete. As the final lesson in the simple machines unit, the study of Rube Goldberg machines can help students evaluate the importance and usefulness of the many machines in the world around them.
One engineering objective is to help people via technological advances. Many of these greater advances in technology can be seen in machines invented by engineers. Rube Goldberg went to school to be an engineer, and after graduating, he decided to become an artist. He drew cartoons of inventions that did simple things in very complicated ways. His inventions involved many complex systems of simple machines, all organized in logical sequences, to accomplish simple tasks. An important skill for engineers is to evaluate the design of machines for their genuine usefulness for their audiences. Often, the best design is the simplest design.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain why some engineered machines have an unquestionable benefit to people and society and others do not.
- Form a critical opinion about the importance of the everyday machines they encounter.
- Explain that mechanical advantage is not always the best way to measure the value of a machine.