The modern elevator safety brake, which made passenger lifts much safer, was invented by which engineer?

Introduction / Context:
Elevator safety is a classic example of how a single engineering invention can transform city life. Before the introduction of a reliable safety brake, people were afraid to use lifts in tall buildings. This question tests your knowledge of Elisha Graves Otis, whose safety brake allowed elevators to become a normal and safe part of modern architecture, making skyscrapers practical.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The invention is the elevator safety brake, not explosives, microwave ovens, or traffic devices.
• The options list Alfred Nobel, Elisha Graves Otis, Percy Spencer, and Garrett Morgan.
• We assume the learner can link each name with at least one famous invention or discovery.

Concept / Approach:
The method is to match each inventor with the correct area of contribution. Alfred Nobel is best known for dynamite and the Nobel Prizes. Percy Spencer is associated with microwave ovens. Garrett Morgan designed traffic signals and safety hoods. Elisha Graves Otis is directly associated with the elevator safety brake. By mapping these associations, we can eliminate the wrong options and choose Otis as the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase elevator safety brake, which is a mechanical device to prevent a lift car from falling.
Step 2: Recall that Elisha Graves Otis demonstrated a safety elevator at an exhibition by cutting the hoisting rope and showing that his brake stopped the platform safely.
Step 3: Recognise that Alfred Nobel invented dynamite and created the Nobel Prize system, not elevator technology.
Step 4: Remember that Percy LeBaron Spencer discovered the food heating effect of microwaves and led to the microwave oven.
Step 5: Know that Garrett Morgan worked on traffic control signals and safety devices for firefighters rather than lifts.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a verification, think of how tall buildings developed in cities such as New York. Histories of skyscrapers nearly always mention Otis and his safety brake demonstration as a turning point. No such association exists for Nobel, Spencer, or Morgan in this context. Because elevator use depends heavily on safety, the one name you repeatedly see in this area is Elisha Graves Otis, which confirms the choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Alfred Bernhard Nobel is wrong because he is famous for dynamite and high energy explosives. Percy LeBaron Spencer is wrong because his work led to the microwave oven and not to elevator safety brakes. Garrett Augustus Morgan is wrong because he invented improvements in traffic signals and safety equipment, not lift brakes. Thus they do not match the elevator context of the question.

Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is confusion among many inventor names presented together. Exam questions often combine several famous names from different fields, which can cause random guessing. To avoid this, it helps to prepare small association charts that link each inventor with one clear flagship invention. If you always think Otis equals elevator safety, Nobel equals dynamite, Spencer equals microwave oven, and Morgan equals traffic signal, you will quickly recognise the correct answer in any similar question.

Final Answer:
The elevator safety brake was invented by Elisha Graves Otis.