Wheel and Axle Lever Simple Machines Pulley Screw Wedge Inclined Plane

Why are they Useful? Simple machines are useful because they can make a physical job easier by changing the magnitude or the direction of the force exerted to do work.

Example Have you ever tried to unscrew a nut, bolt, or screw from something with your bare hands and discovered that it was just too tight to loosen even if you had a good grip?

What Did You Do?

You got the proper tool, such as a screw driver or wrench, and unscrewed it!

Why is it that it's so easy to unscrew with a tool when you can't with your bare hands?

The wrench and screw driver are examples of a wheel and axle, where the screw or bolt is the axle and the handle is the wheel. The tool makes the job easier by changing the amount of the force you exert. Wheel Axle

All of the simple machines can be used for thousands of jobs from lifting a 500-pound weight to making a boat go. The reason why these machines are so special is because they make difficult tasks much easier.

Let's Take a Look at Them

Click Here to Learn More Levers Lever Load Fulcrum

Inclined Plane Click on the dude to learn more.

Screw A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a post. Click on the light bulb to learn more.

Wedge Two inclined planes make a wedge. Try to catch the saw to learn more.

Wheel and Axle Click on the windmill to learn more. Wheel Axle

Pulleys Wheel Rope This box is easier to lift because of the pulley. Click on it to learn more.

Have you learned it all yet? Let’s look at a worksheet to see. Click Here

Are you ready for a quiz on the Internet? Click above

Now it’s time to link to Inspiration Now it’s time to link to Inspiration. When you get there, all of the simple machines are shown. Create some clouds around each picture and add some examples for each simple machine. Click below to begin.

You are now a simple machine expert. Share your knowledge with your parents over dinner.

The End