Simple Machines #1

Simple Machine

a machine with few or no moving parts. There are six: lever, screw, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, and wedge. Simple machines will either change the size of the effort force or the direction of the effort force.

Work

that which is done on an object when the force moves an object through a distance

Gravity

the attraction or pulling force between objects and the Earth.

Inclined Plane

a flat surface with one end higher than the other

Wedge

a machine made up of two inclined planes pieced back-to-back; two inclined planes together; it is wide at one end and pointed at the other. It is used to split, cut or push things apart

Lever

a simple machine made up of a bar that turns around a fixed point

Wheel and Axle

a simple machine made up of a large wheel attached to a smaller wheel or rod; It increases the effort force.

Pulley

a simple machine made up of a rope or chain and a wheel around which the rope fits

Screw

an inclined plane wrapped around a pole

Force

any push or pull

Fulcrum

the fixed point, or point that doesn't move on a lever; the point where a lever rocks back and forth and rest upon. Examples: the center of the seesaw, rim of a can being opened; using a crowbar to remove a nail, then the wood where the bar rest is the fulcrum; the wheel on the wheel-barrow is the fulcrum.

Effort Force

the force put on one part of the bar when you push or pull on a lever

Friction

the force that slows down or stops objects in motion