Simple Machines

General Information

Simple machines are tools that make work easier.

Simple machines have few or no moving parts.

Simple machines use energy to work.

Click on the link below the picture to see types of simple machines

Inclined Plane Lever Pulley Screw

Wedge Wheel and Axle

Works Cited

Inclined Planes

• A flat surface which is elevated at one end. • The angle formed between the ground and the flat

surface cannot be ninety degrees.• Inclined planes are used to move objects from lower

surfaces to higher surfaces or vice versa.

Examples

Examples of Inclined Planes

Ramp

Stairs

Slide

Path up Hill

Slanted Road

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Levers

• Levers were one of the first simple machines.• They were thought of by Archimedes in 260 BC.• Levers involve moving a load about a fulcrum (center

point).• There are three types: first class, second class, third

class.

Levers Continued

Levers

• First class levers: fulcrum is between the load and the force.Ex. See-saw, scissors, pliers

• Second class levers: load is between the force and the fulcrum.Ex. Stapler, wheelbarrow, nutcracker

• Third class levers: force is between the load and the fulcrum.Ex. Fishing rod, tweezers, tongs

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Pulleys• A pulley is used to reverse the direction of

a force. When pulleys are put together and a pulley system is made, heavy objects are able to be lifted with less force.

• A pulley is made with a wheel that has a groove in its edge. The rope is put around the groove to move the pulley.

Examples

Flag PoleCrane

Window BlindsWishing Wells

Examples of Pulleys

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Screw

• A screw is a shaft or a cylinder with an inclined plane wrapped around it.

• In order to move a screw or an object surrounding the screw, the screw must be rotated.

Examples

Examples of Screws

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Wheel and Axle

• A wheel and axle consists of wheels which are connected by a smaller cylinder, an axel.

• It takes a great deal of force to move the axel, but when the axel is moved the wheels turn a greater distance than the axel.

Examples

Examples of a Wheel and Axle

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Wedge

• A wedge is used to cut objects or to get under a heavy load.

• A wedge is made of two inclined planes put together.

• A wedge acts as a right angle in a splitting motion when forced upon the object.

Examples

Examples of a WedgeAxeZipper Knife

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Works Cited

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002079F/wedge.htm

http://edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/sm-glossary.htm#s2

http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/InventorsToolbox.html

http://www.mikids.com/Smachines.htm

http://sunshine.chpc.utah.edu/javalabs/java12/machine/stdntovrvw.htm