How does a 2x2 Rubik's Cube work?

The 2x2 Rubik's Cube has an interesting mechanism on the inside. Let's see how it works!
Get your 2x2 Rubik's Cube here: amzn.to/2ULwsqX
Other puzzles mentioned in this video:
3x3 Rubik's Cube: amzn.to/2OeNWtF
Pyramid: amzn.to/2ULtyTk
Megaminx: amzn.to/2OfTh3A
Tower Cube: amzn.to/2UEQnrE
UFO: amzn.to/2JmLIcF
4x4: amzn.to/2ud8FVv
5x5: amzn.to/2Yc223c
This video has been dubbed in over 20 languages, you can change the audio track language in the Settings menu (click the gear icon in the lower right hand corner of the video).
Try dubbing your videos with AI: dittodub.com/a...
The cube works by a sphere in the very center that has several curved panels coming off it. This sphere is attached to one of the corner pieces. The other seven corner pieces have plastic extending outwards that slide in between the curved panels on the sphere. There are several variations of the 2x2 mechanism - your 2x2 cube might have a different mechanism.
Read the blog post about this video:
/ 25514114
Follow me on social media
Facebook: / jaredowenanimations
Instagram: / jaredowenanimations
Twitter: / jaredowen3d
Patreon: / jaredowenanimations
Awesome Patreon Supporters: ( / jaredowenanimations )
Adam Fishman
Alex Avraham Shtaygrud
Andrew Tan
Axel Nieves
Bryan King
Felix Freiberger
Jason Wellband
Jim Postier
Karen King
Large Raccoon
Levi Mabe
Omar Sagga
Roland Ochoa
Shawn McCalla
Stephen A. Wilson
Todd Eichel
Help me subtitle this video into your language:
www.youtube.com...
Music:
"Crystal" by Vibe Tracks
Made with Blender 2.79b (2.8 is almost here!!!)
Here is some of the gear that I use for animation:
Graphics Card: GTX 1080ti amzn.to/2t70HN0
CPU: i7-8700k amzn.to/2WEk9OE
Motherboard: Asus Prim Z370-A amzn.to/2t4EVth
Microphone: Samson Go Mic amzn.to/2GaSpvV
Mouse: Logitech G600 amzn.to/2UKhf9P
#rubikscube #cubing #b3d

[@JPerm]

Loved the video! I'm looking at my pile of 2x2s right now and a lot of them are different from what you showed (and also different from each other) but I've definitely seen the ball core mechanism in 2x2s before. A common mechanism used today is where it's essentially a 3x3 cube but the edge pieces are TINY and hidden underneath the corner pieces, so you can only see the corners. I think it makes the cube more stable for speedsolving, although I'm not sure of the reason exactly.

[@myguy4w164]

DUDE ITS HIM 😂

[@ritchiefu7212]

Hi J Perm!

[@anooshsoni2948]

hi fam

[@vanessaabele5610]

Hey J perm just wondering how I can get better at 3x3 and how to break the sub 25 barrier can you please make a video on it, thanks!

[@Pragmatist818]

Hahahahaha

[@mrj.o4556]

I can’t imagine even solving the 1 by 1 it’s virtually impossible

[@themachinehead4421]

Years of training is needed to accomplish that!

[@niksld]

@@themachinehead4421 I call bullshit. If its virtually impossible then it has to be physically impossible as well! You mister, are a fiend that wants to deceive us all!

[@rews3873]

How, it's impossible

[@themachinehead4421]

Siphyx I tried with a hammer once. Almost made it!

[@svis6888]

Impossible but the 0x0 is more impossible

[@ASTC-Sinon]

Jared Owen: *Calls a pyraminx a pyramid and calls a 2x2x4 a tower* Every cuber ever: *_*TRIGGERED*_*

[@YannisBang]

well tower is correct i think ... i wasnt triggert but pyramid really desub for THAT jk

[@charlesnixon1157]

Xd

[@testo.k.3864]

I am *triggered* lol

[@sainair836]

Lol i even put a comment XD

[@daepicubaer7740]

tower is correct, but only for the rubiks brand

[@jakovdrawzz]

3:04 hell yeah that's satisfying

[@Qushi451]

Yes

[@garlicbreadstick404]

Dont watch that multiple times i ended up peeing glue

[@seanbabyboy100]

@@garlicbreadstick404 oh god please no

[@Cubingdash2020]

who is a cuber here Edit:omg thanks everyone also you can still reply and like I have no problem

[@CrazyEditz1212]

Me

[@doronlaher123]

Me

[@clara_marinescu7070]

Me

[@Syed_Putra_Alrik]

me i average around 26 seconds what about u

[@Ubzplayz]

i average 42 secs

[@frostpyrogaming5250]

Everyone talking about the 1x1 but I want the 0x0

[@gap6922]

You want nothing

[@machy8515]

magical weeb r/woooosh

[@emeraldz6744]

The none-by-none

[@andrewfawcett9320]

Here ya go

[@derpyface3602]

Every body has one though so there’s no reason to talk about it

[@rotate85]

So how is it assembled without breaking the tabs?

[@JaredOwen]

I've been asking myself this question for last few weeks! My guess is that the two halves of the sphere, each with 4 corner pieces, are glued together somehow.

[@lamfrancisco154]

Jared Owen My cube is built a bit different but it has screws in the middle of each face which I’m assuming loosens up something inside and allows for me to open it

[@llarc5889]

I don’t know exactly what the question is asking, but if it’s asking about the white tabs then I think they insert the white tabs into the corner pieces and then glue it or stick it to the core.

[@iROMine]

It's not 🙃

[@Hawtknife]

@@JaredOwen I assume they slide on the movable corners while the solid cube isn't in place yet. When all seven of them are on, they glue that final corner to the core to seal everything off.

[@neolynx_]

The animation is so good!

[@johndee9622]

"It's so good" ...like your talkin about a slice uh, pizza..and a Capri sun.

[@kom_5979]

Yes it is!

[@cheeseburgermonkey7104]

@@johndee9622 do you think the word "good" is just slang for "tasty"

[@drunkastronaut6927]

That little joke about the 1x1 cube was adorable.

[@dawidplata6116]

is 1x1 rubik cube a meme cuz i dont get it its already solved

[@1unar_eclipse]

@@dawidplata6116 Yeah, from what I've gathered it's an inside joke among cubers.

[@dawidplata6116]

@@1unar_eclipse thank you for explanation

[@billyline3558]

The 2x2 cube mechanism is more interesting than the 3x3's tbh. Also i like how the gears from the pull-back toy car were in the 1x1 cube 😃

[@ianang8977]

actually this mechanism is an old 2x2. A modern 2x2 is like a 3x3 mechanism and have hidden edge pieces. The hidden edge pieces are tabs which holds the corners. Oh yeah, there is also a center but it is under the whole structure Edit: I just realised jperm posted the comment...

[@asdfghjkl-be7su]

Rubiks brand?

[@dtv2426]

Ian Ang thank you

[@bowpro6670]

So its technically a 3x3 rubiks cube

[@SpotErrOne]

every even^3 cube is (even^3)+1 cube Edit: oh, it's (even+1)^3 cube

[@twistiicuber1055]

As a speedcuber myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It's an amazing and high quality animation to give people a good perspective on how a 2x2 Rubik's brand cube would work. Perhaps one day you'll be able to make one of these on a 1x1, I'm sure you're aware of its complexity and advanced structure; however, it is something very hard to understand on a human level. Amazing job as always Jared, I recommend you all sub with that notif bell on if u know what I'm sayin'

[@BranchEducation]

Really great animation! I really like the animation at 2:18 , it makes me feel like I'm in the Rubik's cube.

[@goofygoober0106]

yea

[@MouseGoat]

"to solve the Rubik's cube, you must first become the Rubik's cube"

[@Danny_Toons]

Its hard to solve your body​@@MouseGoat

[@sfskrypzone3247]

That's what I call quality animation

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you!

[@coolgamer0000]

0:50 Did You Get The Ufo Cube From The Area 51 Raid Or Something?

[@LightLucky]

I have one in my home... Hehe

[@Ma.Cynthia]

If you had dat u can raid from area 51

[@daepicubaer7740]

it’s an old puzzle but it’s a real one

[@Winlonghorn_iso]

daepicubaer r/woooosh

[@newspacia]

@GUSTAVO666BR Error1010010101010 spam

[@theairaccumulator7144]

Make a video about the speedcube 2x2 mechanism! The one with the tiny 3x3 inside (If you want to)

[@intrer8601]

IT’S CALLED A PYRAMINX NOT A PYRAMID!!!

[@lloaas2798]

wOw bRO raDICaL

[@JaredOwen]

Sorry about that! Some places called it a pyramid, but you are right - it is a Pyraminx.

[@georgewashington9161]

Pyramid

[@austindangerpowers8453]

I always called it the pyramid anyway

[@tasveergraphy8492]

Not everyone is perfect you dipshit

[@bubbleteame2560]

Pyraminx : *exists* Jared: P Y R A M I D

[@noelht1]

This should be the only channel on KZbin, with the videos playing on repeat all day.

[@supersamsquared8055]

Even more interesting is that some brands like MoYu have a different mechanism entirely. MoYu's is like a mini 3x3x3 but with large corners and every other piece is round, making up the sphere shape on the inside

[@drippymissouri]

Most speedcube have it too, my yj mgc is like that

[@mrcat1043]

Ball cores are old no?

[@supersamsquared8055]

@@mrcat1043 I don't know

[@NixiShavalMusic]

Modern 2x2s are actually very similar to 3x3 but with the centers and edges smaller and inside the cube

[@BixelPit]

At 2:54 There's a Megaminx in the Distance.

[@Thisis_phil1234]

“I see you…”

[@srivathsan8421]

Legend has it Jared is still trying to guess the structure of the 1x1 rubik's cube

[@TPG128]

I think it uses mechanics scientists havent discovered

[@levigibson7610]

Hello I am a speedcuber. This is the mechanism of the Rubik's 2x2. It has a weird design. Speedcube 2x2s have very different designs. Thanks for making the video I really enjoyed it.

[@Ma.Cynthia]

2:14 Xbox!!!

[@multigamerinfinite]

Man, you sure put a lot of work into these videos.I wish I could personally high-five you

[@IonJohn]

When he said pyramid i felt like dying... it's called pyraminx ok?

[@electricuber8613]

Him: Tower Cube Me: ITS NOT A CUBE!

[@sayaka1875]

why are you so serious about that lol?

[@bolson42]

21 Sausage ikr, I’m sorry that I got the name wrong obsessed fan base

[@jackburns6403]

@@bolson42 The overly obsessed fanbase that complains when "non cubers" get it slightly wrong is why I quit cubing

[@perison4611]

Nerd

[@joshuaboos9694]

You should do a video on an airsoft AEG, the mechanism is very interesting

[@blueworld1696]

*I love your 3D animation videos you have good ideas! About 3D animations*

[@jkthenoob]

I disassembled my Rubik's brand 2x2 and it was exactly like this! SO AMAZING!!!!

[@fastgolfr32]

Did you get it back together? One of the kids pulled a Rubiks 2x2 apart that we had for 2 days.

[@jkthenoob]

@@fastgolfr32 No :(

[@fastgolfr32]

@@jkthenoob I just fixed ours. It was actually very easy once I thought it out after a good nights rest.

[@NeilQVLGA6455]

Finally! The 2x2 is here! Do 4x4 next!

[@JaredOwen]

I'll think about it😜

[@TheKakashi709]

@@JaredOwen The 4x4x4 is really similar. The 6x6x6 is absolutely a beautiful design on the inside.

[@Enzi_Meteori_902]

@@JaredOwen when will space shuttle animation come?

[@mahmouda.khalifa]

This animation is so satisfying

[@thedogethatgames]

We need a video on how a 1x1 cube works, they confuse the heck out of me.

[@MikeHuntTV]

Yeah

[@gleannemilan9421]

I really liked how you did all of the animations Jared! Youre so cool!

[@lhennacis2051]

0:10 Xbox shaped

[@svis6888]

Hey! That the "pyraminx" and not "pyramid" AND yes the 1x1 is very difficult but the 0x0 is more complicated Great video!

[@liamhenderson7367]

I could never solve my 0x0 Any tips or are you stumped too?

[@tjryan339]

-1x-1 is the most difficult

[@liamhenderson7367]

Not as hard as a...... I don’t know you got me beat

[@tjryan339]

+Liam Henderson lol

[@svis6888]

@@tjryan339 yes

[@naveenraj2008eee]

Wow jared your animation is superb and you are best and how you manage to do this animation so easily... I discovered your channel recently. I went through your video. I subscribed..Thanks jared for another masterstroke video.

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you!

[@luatmyalvin]

2:14 I thought that was Xbox

[@rezzielibiran3617]

Wow you uploaded this on my dad's birthday. Yes its March 22!

[@rezzielibiran3617]

That's kind of the same month of my birthday:March 7

[@jasonzawtun]

RIP Owen's cube. † The sacrifice was used for this video.

[@Xmw92ba3oenalfk9]

The 15 dislikes are mad because they can’t even solve the 2x2 😂

[@AzPlayz1052]

No coz he called the Pyraminx a pyramid

[@mostro831]

@@AzPlayz1052 yup hes calling it pyramid

[@cobus81]

Bryce __ Ok and? Just because you can solve it doesn’t mean everyone else can, so stfu

[@YannisBang]

well, can you? Vsauce music intensifies

[@the_real_drwhoroblox1935]

@@cobus81 Yea I agree with you because thats also why his comment has three times the amount of dislikes as likes.

[@dansv1]

I would like to see a video on the construction of the Apollo Lunar Module. Specifically showing the structural integrity that it had while also being lite weight.

[@andrewvogelpohl5642]

you should do videos on higher order cubes like 4x4 and 5x5 but with modern speedcube design instead of rubiks brand design

[@stunninggaming6007]

“I heard it’s really complex on the inside” *has windup gears inside* 1:06 Omg 1 like.. okay that was mine ;-;

[@h-Films]

3x3: m a g n e t 2x2: SLIPPY SLIDE

[@minecraftheaven5965]

Guys if he stars on the 1x1 we'll never see him again, He'll just be stuck forever figuiring it out...

[@justinwhy6550]

Waiting for woooooshes

[@mxstery9960]

SUBSCRIBE TO PEWDIEPIE what do you mean its so hard to make one

[@ilikecats310]

Oscar kelleher please tell me you are joking...

[@minecraftheaven5965]

@SUBSCRIBE TO PEWDIEPIE Can you not understand a fucking joke man

[@minecraftheaven5965]

@@oscarkelleher796 Some people are really dumb

[@myguy4w164]

Fellow Cubers where u at?

[@emok1llerowo164]

C.O.P. Gamer here

[@robertsimon2885]

C.O.P. Gamer Yo.

[@sq5321]

Sub 15 cuber here

[@myguy4w164]

@@sq5321 My PB is 14 But mu average is about 18

[@sq5321]

@@myguy4w164 My pb is 7.92 on 3x3 ^^

[@plantbasedplant3505]

Me : hey is pyramid Cubers : *HIGH PITCHED DEMONIC SCREECHING*

[@budhadevlalgujar5915]

I have habit of writing notes during Online lectures. I am writing this too! Its like lecture. You're great.

[@vonvibes1673]

Super. Extremely professional job done. Great show

[@aspectofficial3460]

Love your work dude. Your one of the most hard working youtubers I’ve seen. These videos take a lot of effort to make. Much love man. Keep the good work up.

[@saturniunyttech679]

We need one for "how do 2x2 SPEEDCUBES work?"

[@mikudayoooo16]

Not all

[@saturniunyttech679]

@Fidgets ETC. not all of them...

[@coolmonkey619]

1million sub by the end of 2019 if you carry on such good content

[@JaredOwen]

That's my goal! Thanks tom111

[@dabalciunas]

If you cannot open it without breaking it, how are the pieces put together in the first place? I would love to see an explanation on how these things are built.

[@wesleyashley99]

I broke mine and found out that the part of the track opposite the fixed corner piece is a peg that goes through and snaps into that fixed piece with 3 fingers that could be accessed through the color tiles and probably taken loose with a small slotted screw driver. Then all other pieces easily come out where the peg was removed from the track. The corner that was fixed on mine was the one with the logo on the white tile.

[@priyanshugoyal7072]

Jared Owens: saying a pyraminx a pyramid Every cuber:Triggered

[@grubob4439]

Do a 0x0 review! I would like that

[@JJTE134]

Omg I Got One But It’s Hard To Solve

[@elimason3488]

@@JJTE134 it can't possibly be that hard because it's nothing!

[@JJTE134]

Foxy5 FunnyKid r/Wooosh

[@plantbasedplant3505]

You have achieved comedy

[@juanmam.2113]

Hey Jared I really like your channel and though it would be a cool idea to make a video covering those extandable straps for dogs. I imagine it would be a short but still very entretaining video! Greetings

[@JaredOwen]

Interesting idea! I'll take a look

[@thekategaming1111]

Yeshh

[@thekategaming1111]

Yyyyy

[@thekategaming1111]

Æ

[@thekategaming1111]

AE

[@blackrhino8987]

Can you do One World Trade Center.

[@ELZY0906]

0:51 I Had Never Seen A Rubix Ufo Like That

[@angrymoose3383]

The ball core mechanism is used for the Rubik’s brand 2x2 but most speedcubes use internal edges that make it just a 3x3 on the inside.

[@darrest9808]

When he pronounces the pyraminx as “pyramid” and the 2x2x4 as the “tower” *angey cuber noises*

[@EnerJetix]

I learned how a 3x3 rubiks cube works on accident... If you know what I mean..

[@pmoon4848]

MmmMmmMmMmMmMmMmMm, yees, relatable indeed.

[@ph4ntom701]

0:44 he said pyramid! Cubers BEWARE!

[@cheesejam1373]

Should have said pyraminx

[@kikinana82]

Your animation and explanation is magnificent.. keep up

[@mohammadshabaz7597]

The 1×1 is nothing but very helpful and nice video, thanks Jared!

[@jonnezq]

0:43 wait.... so is it pyramid or pyraminx????

[@davidlambasardo1583]

Pyraminx

[@Ma.Cynthia]

0:55 Pyramid? Ur wrong super wrong!!!!!! It's pyraminx

[@colonelstriker2519]

You know where is this going right? A 4x4x4

[@NILO2014]

Amazing! thanks for your time preparing this animation. I know you needed a long time.

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you!

[@brucegavin7614]

This is an outstanding example of how it works mechanically.

[@boredom4233]

Its a pyraminx, not a pyramid

[@isaiah6194]

1:06 is he joking he better be joking

[@hx20games77]

Off course

[@myguy4w164]

EXEPT that's a rubik's brand ,

[@liamhenderson7367]

Hey Jared Can you do a video for a speed cube 2x2?

[@flavorofwhey]

*except

[@myguy4w164]

@@liamhenderson7367 I'm not jerad?

[@liamhenderson7367]

I know But I was talking to Jared Sorry for the confusion

[@vitofoe6896]

The 2x2 mechanism now is different from this now. Now, they have an edge piece, just very small and located in the inside Also, there is a center piece located on the very inside of the cube. And the corner is very different now. They now have slots to insert the edge piece. The pieces are sturdier and smoother than the old one. The pieces move independently. Unlike the old one which has one piece attached to the center Also, The center piece now isn't a ball. Its like a cross like shape.

[@kurzackd]

noooo, why did they change it? :(( The sphere is like the PERFECT shape!!!

[@ktaragorn]

Both the videos were fun!, my 2x2 has screws and a more intricate sphere that i can see (dunno if old or fake).. was gonna take it apart, but chickened out and came here :D

[@ColdMini_]

This guy who clearly hasn’t done enough research: a *PYRAMID* and a megaminx and a *TOWER* and a *UFO*

[@jwales4927]

This is how many speedcubers got mad when he said “and here’s the pyramid” ⬇️

[@kianfrancis4684]

Who else got triggered when he said *Pyramid* instead of pyraminx

[@GaminGuy_]

i laughed with joy because right then i knew half the comments would be talking about how he called it a "pyramid" instead of a "pharos rubix cube"

[@jarediannudalo6074]

the animation is so good and so satisfying

[@kimballbelliston5925]

This is some really cool animations

[@DaKing08]

If you can say megaminx, why can’t you say *pyraminx?*

[@Enzi_Meteori_902]

Hahaha

[@perplexed_pacifist376]

I can't wait for a video on the 1x1, I've always wondered what happened on the inside

[@zurqk1567]

if you color the edges with the corresponding faces on a 2x2, you would get a 3x3 if you spread the cube apart and look at the edges. but this will only work If you have a speedcube mechanism

[@HistoryCamel]

Is the “tower cube” an attual thing? Like wouldn’t it be a 2 x 2 x 5 or something?

[@HistoryCamel]

The Zak Ok thanks I knew that they existed but didn’t know if they were called that. Thanks for answering

[@blekitYT]

if you are talking about the Rubiks brand, then yeah, but 99% (its not confirmed) of speedcubes have the exact same as 3x3, but the two types of pieces are hidden inside and uncollored/unstickered

[@sunnnyyy.]

Nice animation, as with the animation including the 3x3. I now understand how a 2x2 works. Thanks!

[@swanikk]

One of my mother’s friend came over to our house, along with her children. The oldest one (11yo) has a disability. So, he asked for the cube i was trying to solve, and i said, “i can solve it again” (spoiler: i did not solve that one ever again) and i gave it to him. i was so bored, so i went to use my computer. Found this video. I was like, oh, so that’s what’s in my cube. And then i heard something, i thought my dog was eating a bone because it sounded like that, but the food hadn’t come, so i went to see, and i saw my cube lying on the floor, broken. i literally started crying (because that was my only cube at the time, and i wasn’t even allowed to use my computer most of the time) and his parents were like, oops..it was broken literally, because one of the pieces was broken COMPLETELY. i buried it in my yard. Also, my cube had a core like a 3x3. Cross thing.

[@cheseborger]

Another version (mostly on speed 2x2s) has the attached corner piece, and the rest works like a 3x3, with enlarged corners and inner edge and centers.

[@tomservo3401]

Thanks for the warning. Was going to try and take mine apart, all these bs videos online saying just force it. Glad I kept researching, only $8 but still no sense in ruining it.

[@Mellow_on_paws]

Now that I know how to do a 2x2 this makes it fall more fun :3

[@net_lag]

The animation used just to show the inside of a 1x1 cube shouldn't go unnoticed. It certainly must be the most complex Rubik's cube of all.

[@diophantine1598]

The only mistake in this video is which corner piece is stationary. My 2 by 2 cube (rubik’s) has the stationary cube in a different spot. Great informative video btw!

[@laurasanchez5884]

I ♥️ your blender animations

[@Gopalkumar-tf8bi]

AWESOME ANIMATION WE ALL LOVED IT

[@randomizedstuff849]

Your friend:Do you have I rubix cube? You:Yea (Pulls out 1×1 rubix cube) Your friend:how do you play with it? You:uhmm I don't know.You can keep it

[@chrisdobbin176]

Amazing job explaining it!

[@hrishikeshs2195]

Perfect animation and perfect explanation

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you!

[@shilimkarnv1]

Nice explanation.... very good imagination and skill to put this imagination in animation. Thank you

[@legomagnum9662]

The actual shape for the megaminx is a duodecahedron

[@无言-v9g]

If I can, I'd like to look at the construction of the parts inside the particle accelerator and the interaction between them