Wheel Lever
and Axle
Pulley
Screw
Wedge
Inclined
Plane

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?

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.

Click Here to
Learn More
Lever
Load
Fulcrum

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.

Wheel
Axle
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.