Simple Machines

Simple Machines There are six main simple machines that are frequently utilized when building more complex devices: Lever Inclined Plane Wheel and Axle Screw Wedge Pulleys

Lever Definition: rigid bar resting on a pivot, used to help move a heavy or firmly fixed load with one end when pressure is applied to the other. Examples include: see-saws, hammer’s claw, wheelbarrow, etc. Who can demonstrate a lever right now?

Inclined Plane Definition: 1. a plane inclined at an angle to the horizontal. 2. a sloping ramp up which heavy loads can be raised by ropes or chains. Examples: ramps, funicular trains, etc. Who can demonstrate an inclined plane device right now?

Wheel and Axle Definition: a simple lifting machine consisting of a rope that unwinds from a wheel onto a cylindrical drum or shaft joined to the wheel to provide mechanical advantage. Examples include: vehicle wheels, windmills, etc. Who can demonstrate a wheel and axle device right now?

Screw Definition: a short, slender, sharp-pointed metal pin with a raised helical thread running around it and a slotted head, used to join things together by being rotated so that it pierces wood or other material and is held tightly in place. Examples include: drill, corkscrew, vice, etc. Who can demonstrate a screw device right now?

Wedge Definition: a piece of wood, metal, or some other material having one thick end and tapering to a thin edge, that is driven between two objects or parts of an object to secure or separate them. Examples include: axes, knives, saws, etc. Who can demonstrate a wedge device right now?

Pulley Definition: a wheel with a grooved rim around which a cord passes. It acts to change the direction of a force applied to the cord and is chiefly used (typically in combination) to raise heavy weights. Examples include: clothesline, block and tackle, etc. Who can demonstrate a pulley device right now?

Examples of Simple Devices in Action! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFn Y7Y8w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0jmSs Q5ptw

Your task: Contraption Challenge! You will design and then create your own simple-machine-driven contraption. 1st: You must draw and label a design of your contraption. 2nd: You must create your own contraption that utilizes at least 4 different elements (any of the simple machines) using only materials that you find in the classroom or that you can find at home.

Useful Materials Dominoes Playing cards Marbles, other balls Paper towel tubes String Books Legos Cardboard boxes What else?...

A reminder… These will be worked on in class so remember that coming prepared for class is a key. Your contraptions must adhere to classroom safety meaning that anything that potentially injure someone or damage anything in the classroom will be shutdown. Let’s try to avoid this! Also, your contraption must have some size limitations (we can’t spread into the hallways, other classrooms, etc.) We also must be able to setup and cleanup in the span of 1 hour. This means that you must be able to put your contraption away at the end of class.