A Simple Machine to Make Work Simple

Introduction A machine is a device for performing work. Most machines are designed to make work easier. New machines are invented all the time by people with great ideas on how to make something easier. Sometimes these people invent something really good and become rich and famous.

The Task We have been challenged to come up with an invention that would make something we do in our everyday life easier. Throughout this challenge we brainstormed ideas and then compiled those into ideas of inventions that would actually work. Finally we used the scientific process to design and test our invention.

The Scientific Process Purpose: to design a machine to help us open books faster. The type of machine we are creating is a wedge. Materials: straw, pencil top eraser, rod, glue, ribbon, and tape Hypothesis: the fast book machine will aide students in opening books faster than just using their own two hands.

Fast Book Machine - Wedge What is a wedge? –a solid block that is thick at one end and thin at the other, used to secure or separate two objects Examples…. –Axe, doorstop, zipper, knife

How Does a Wedge Make Work Easier? Without the use of a wedge, we would not be able to split things easily. Wedges make things easier to open by using less effort. –Effort - energy: mental or physical energy that is exerted in order to achieve a purpose Axes are used to cut lumber. A wedge saves time so the work can be done quicker.

Procedure 1.Put the rod through the straw. 2.Put some glue on the pencil top eraser and put it on one end of the rod. 3.Tie the ribbon around the other end and tape it shut. 4.Use the fast page turner to turn the pages of a book

Procedures continued Using force, we pushed our fast page turner and the fast page turner did the work. –Force - the capacity to do work or cause physical change

Data

Conclusions Using the fast page turner made the work easier. Less effort was applied and we were able to open our books and turn pages faster. We turned 10 more math book pages with our fast page turner in one minute than with our bare hands.

References ce/force.htmhttp:// ce/force.htm =wihttp:// =wi =define+wedge&FORM=DTPDIA&qpvt =what+is+a+wedgehttp:// =define+wedge&FORM=DTPDIA&qpvt =what+is+a+wedge =define+effort&FORM=DTPDIA&qpvt= what+is+efforthttp:// =define+effort&FORM=DTPDIA&qpvt= what+is+effort