Overview
Explore the whimsical world of Rube Goldberg machines in this entertaining 38-minute video lecture. Dive into the counterintuitive side of engineering as Professor Stephen J. Ressler demonstrates the art of creating wildly inefficient yet hilarious contraptions. Learn about Goldberg's famous self-operating napkin and discover the educational value behind these impractical inventions. Follow along as Ressler guides you through a DIY engineering project to create a mouse-click device, complete with hydraulic systems, rocket pendulums, and balloon switches. Witness the professor's own Rube Goldberg machine in action and enjoy behind-the-scenes outtakes. Gain insights into the creative problem-solving and engineering principles that make these complex, multi-step machines both entertaining and educational.
Syllabus
Defying the Tradition of Practical Engineering
Rube Goldberg's Self-Operating Napkin
Learning Value of Goldberg's Inventions
DIY Engineering Project: Mouse Click Device
Designing Hydraulic System
Creating a Rocket Pendulum
Making a Balloon Switch
Assembling the Remaining Pieces
Professor Ressler's DIY Machine
Outtakes: DIY Tribute to Rube Goldberg
Taught by
Wondrium