WedgeInclined Plane

Screw

Wheel and Axle

Lever

Pulley

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.

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?

http://cgl.microsoft.com/clipgallerylive/packages/j007/j0078622.cil

You got the proper tool, such as a screw driveror 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.

Axle

Wheel

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.

Fulcrum

Lever

Load

Click Here to Learn More

Click on the dude to learn more.

A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a post.

Click on the light bulb to learn more.

Two inclined planes make a wedge.

Try to catch the saw to learn more.

Axle

Wheel

Click on the windmill to learn more.

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

Click above

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.