Discover how simple machines like levers, pulleys, and inclined planes make work easier by changing the force needed.
A lever is a rigid bar that pivots around a fixed point called the fulcrum, used to lift heavy loads with less effort.
Give an example of a lever used in daily life.
A seesaw, a pair of scissors, or a crowbar
What is the fixed point of a lever called?
The fulcrum
A pulley uses a wheel and rope to change the direction of force, making lifting easier. An inclined plane is a slanted surface that reduces the force needed to raise an object.
Why is it easier to push a heavy box up a ramp than lift it straight up?
An inclined plane spreads the work over a longer distance, reducing the force needed at any moment
Give an example of a pulley used in daily life.
A flag hoist or a well with a bucket and rope
1. What is a simple machine?
2. Give an example of a lever.
3. What does a pulley change about a force?
4. Give an example of an inclined plane.
5. Why do simple machines make work feel easier even though the total work stays similar?