40 years ago, many people demonstrated their intellectual abilities by using a special puzzle toy that had just appeared at that time. It was a type of Rubik's cube called a snake. Its links could be used to construct a different number of two-dimensional and three-dimensional figuresThe most convenient way to make a ball out of it.
What is the use of the invention?
The creator of the world-famous puzzle cube is the Hungarian sculptor Erno Rubik. He patented the product in 1975, and literally a few years later this invention made Rubik incredibly rich. The inventor became the first millionaire in Eastern Europe. Afterwards, he worked in the editorial office of a magazine about games and puzzles.
In 1983, he founded a company that is still developing various games that help develop intelligence. In the late 80s, Rubik founded the International Foundation for the Support of Young Inventors. Rubik currently lives in Budapest and continues to work on creating puzzles. However, these are no longer mechanical toys, but video games.
A toy for children, a snake, was developed based on the Rubik's cube. It did not require solving puzzles: a child could assemble anything from it, his imagination was limited only by the number of links. The most popular figure, which is most often made from a snake, is a ball. The reason for the popularity of this figure lies in its simplicity and compactness.
However, regardless of which toy – a cube or a snake – seems more interesting to a child, both of them:
- promote intellectual development: teach concentration, as well as strategic and logical thinking;
- awaken a healthy sporting passion. After all, a child wants to assemble a cube correctly, and make a beautiful figure out of a snake to show it to adults or peers and thus boast of his abilities;
- contribute to the development of spatial thinking: to assemble a figure, you need to keep the finished picture in your mind in order to understand your final goal.
Creative individuals will certainly create something new while assembling traditional figures.
However, this toy has a positive effect not only on the brain: creating figures from it is good gymnastics for the joints of the upper limbs. After all, few people regularly do exercises aimed at preventing arthrosis and arthritis. With a snake, this will happen automatically. The child will simply play, thereby preventing serious illnesses in the future.
What does a snake consist of?
The classic snake, based on the Rubik's cube, consists of a couple dozen prisms that are all the same size and connected to each other by hinges. There is nothing intricate about such a device, but once you start using it for its intended purpose, it will be difficult to tear yourself away.
Assembling different figures from the snake is an exciting process. Its initial appearance, when it is not assembled into a figure, resembles a snake stretched out to its full length. Usually, the links are painted in 2 different colors: usually red and white. This simplifies the assembly process.
The main difference between the snake and the Rubik's cube is that it allows you to create new figures.
A standard snake consists of 24 parts. Those who do not want to limit their imagination to the length of the snake should choose options with many more links. As a rule, their number is a multiple of 12. Models with 36, 48, 60 links can be found on sale. You can make two-dimensional or three-dimensional figures from the snake.
Many of them are easy to create, for example, a ball. Even a preschooler can handle it. It is noteworthy that although such a toy is called a puzzle, in reality it is not one. It is more like a construction set, which should be assembled according to a pre-planned plan.
Which snake is better to choose?
Much time has passed since the invention of the snake, so that thousands of its varieties have appeared. Today, you can find snakes of different sizes and colors on sale. Before making a choice, it is worth holding the toy in your hands. Then it will immediately become clear how convenient it will be to work with.
It is important that its elements turn easily, without effort. In addition to the snake itself, the package should also contain instructions for its use. If you plan to take the snake for a walk to assemble the figures outside the home (for example, on public transport, during a break at school), it is better to give preference to its small version.
There are zippers that are made in the form of keychains. They are designed to be carried with you everywhere. Such options are equipped with additional elements that allow you to attach the zip to clothing.
If your child wants to feel like a real designer, then it is worth buying a large-sized snake. You won’t be able to take it with you, but it will allow you to construct amazing things.
Preparing the snake for assembly
You can make a ball out of a snake by following a short instruction and a special diagram. First of all, you should prepare the toy for the upcoming work with it. First, you need to make a straight line out of it. Then one side of it should be taken in the right hand, and the last triangle should remain in the left hand.
Before you start assembling, you need to practice the technique and at the same time learn some of the nuances:
- Take into account that each element of the toy rotates around the triangle in the left hand.
- The turn must be made 90 degrees once in the direction indicated in the diagram.
- Carefully monitor whether a part has been missed or whether assembly steps have been mixed up.
- There are many stages in the scheme, so it will take some time to learn how to assemble the ball automatically.
How to read assembly diagrams?
To make a ball or other figure from a snake, you will first need to study the model assembly diagram. You need to correctly place the toy in front of you. Its initial position should be as follows: all elements form a straight line. When viewed from the side, the dark parts should be at the bottom. Light ones, respectively, should be, on the contrary, at the top.
In the classic version of the snake, each dark detail has a unique number from 1 to 12. The numbering goes from left to right. These dark elements do not change their position when working on the figure. Only the light elements will move. The next point of the instructions will begin with this number.
If you need to rotate the triangle that is located on the left, then in the diagram such an action will be designated by the letter "L". If you need to rotate the right part, then the letter "P" is used.
The number of turns cannot be more than 3. After all, if you make a 4th turn, the part will return to its starting position. Accordingly, after the letter "L" or "P" there can be a number 1, 2 or 3. It is important to remember that the parts turn in the direction of the clock hand.
Each part of the assembly diagram consists of 3 components:
| Component | Description |
| Part No. | Usually from 1 to 12 |
| Turning side | Left - "L" or right - "P" |
| Number of turns | 1, 2 or 3 |
Let's say the diagram says "9P3". This means that you need to turn the light triangle to the right of the 9th dark one three times. If you remember this, then there will be no problems with assembling the figures from the snake according to the diagram. Moreover, even the reverse process is possible - anyone can make their own assembly diagram. This will be very useful if you manage to create something special.
This scheme is remarkable in that it can be understood by anyone, regardless of nationality and what language they speak. The only nuance that should be remembered by those who are going to show their scheme to foreigners is that it is better to replace the Cyrillic letters "Л" and "П" with the corresponding Latin "L" and "R".
Step-by-step instructions for assembling a ball from a snake
You can make a ball out of a snake if you follow these steps during assembly:
- Rotate the toy elements left and right. To do this, place it vertically in front of you so that the long edge is on top. The top prism should be facing the ceiling with its base. If the reader of the instructions is right-handed, he should take the prism in his left hand and turn the top 90 degrees to the right with his right hand.
- Rotate the next prism. The rotation should be done as in the previous step.
- The next joint is twisted in the same way. The elements should fold in one direction.
- After spinning the toy for the 4th time, as if constantly turning it to the right, form a distinct fragment of the future sphere. This fragment will be a depression of 3 faces of the same color. At the same time, faces of the 2nd color will adjoin each of them.
- Grasp the snake and rotate it to the right towards you.
- Repeat the first 4 steps. As a result, another 1 depression should form. This will be the 2nd half of the sphere. Moreover, the last 2 steps must be performed almost simultaneously. This is required so that the toy prisms fit tightly together.
- Once again, turn the snake away from the ball. The main task is to free it in order to make the 3rd part of the sphere.
- Repeat all steps 1 through 4 again. Then bend the snake away from the sphere. As a result, 8 indentations should be formed.
- The figure is almost assembled, but it has a tail sticking out. It is important to make such a sphere so that it is even and symmetrical. It must have the correct shape. You need to find the "tail" from which you started assembling the figure and move it away from the sphere.
- Turn the other edge, consisting of a pair of prisms, to the right, and turn the upper part away from you.
- Lower both edges towards the sphere. The figure is ready.
The snake is a simple but entertaining puzzle that helps develop intelligence. At first, it may seem difficult, and even assembling a simple ball can be difficult for a person who has seen such a snake for the first time. However, it is enough to pick up this device and play with it for a few minutes, as it will be easy to make various figures from it.
Video about assembling the ball
How to make a ball from a snake: