Assignment:
Rube Goldberg, an American cartoonist, was best known for cartoons that depicted complicated gadgets that were intended to perform simple tasks. The cartoon below shows a complicated gadget to make life simpler by getting the pan ready to cook breakfast as the alarm clock winds the cord to turn on the stove top. However, if left unattended, will the thermal radiation that occurs from the electric stove top heat the surroundings (book, cooking oil bottle, etc.) to the point of ignition, setting off the smoke detector, or is the thermal radiation absorbed by cooking oil in the pan until it reaches a combustible mixture, setting off the smoke detector and igniting the room? How might you alter this setup? Do you believe your setup is the best choice to prevent a fire? Why?