Simple Machines

Here are the facts!

 

What are simple Machines? Read the introduction and explaiation here

 

 

	Gears:         Two toothed wheels fit together either directly or through a chain or belt so one wheel will turn the other. Some gears may have a screw or a toothed shaft in place of one of the wheels. A gear may also be a combination of toothed wheels that produces a certain speed (such as a bicycle's top gear which makes the bike go fast, and the low gear for slow speed.) Examples: Clock, Automobile, Drill
	Inclined plane:       A sloping surface, such as a ramp. An inclined plane can be used to alter the effort and distance involved in doing work, such as lifting loads. The trade-off is that an object must be moved a longer distance than if it was lifted straight up, but less force is needed. Examples: Staircase, Ramp, Bottom of a Bath Tub
	Lever:       A straight rod or board that pivots on a point known as a fulcrum. The fulcrum can be moved depending on the weight of the object to be lifted or the force you wish to exert. Pushing down on one end of a lever results in the upward motion of the opposite end of the fulcrum. Examples: Door on Hinges, Seesaw, Hammer, Bottle Opener
	Pulley:       A wheel that usually has a groove around the outside edge. This groove is for a rope or belt to move around the pulley. Pulling down on the rope can lift an object attached to the rope. Work is made easier because pulling down on the rope is made easier due to gravity. Examples: Flag Pole, Crane, Mini-Blinds
	Screw:       An inclined plane wrapped around a shaft or cylinder. This inclined plane allows the screw to move itself or to move an object or material surrounding it when rotated. Examples: Bolt, Spiral Staircase
What are they???	Simple Machines:       A machine with few or no moving parts. Simple machines make work easier. Examples: Screw, Wheel and Axle, Wedge, Pulley, Inclined Plane, Lever
	Wedge:        Two inclined planes joined back to back. Wedges are used to split things. Examples: Axe, Zipper, Knife
	Wheel and Axle:       A wheel and axle has a larger wheel (or wheels) connected by a smaller cylinder (axle) and is fastened to the wheel so that they turn together. When the axle is turned, the wheel moves a greater distance than the axle, but less force is needed to move it. The axle moves a shorter distance, but it takes greater force to move it. Examples: Door Knob, Wagon, Toy Car

 

 Taken from the Ed Heads Site.

 

Check out the link below to see a little movie on Simple Machines

 

 

 

http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/frame_loader.htm

 

Use the worksheets below to take notes

 

simple machines worksheet.pdf

 

 Please vist these sites to help you answer the questions in the worksheet

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 Lab Activities  

http://www.msichicago.org/fileadmin/Activities/Games/simple_machines/

 

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

 

http://www.fi.edu/pieces/knox/automaton/simple.htm

 

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

 

http://www.coe.uh.edu/archive/science/science_lessons/scienceles1/finalhome.htm

 

http://www.fi.edu/qa97/spotlight3/

 

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

 

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002079F/sub3.htm

 

http://www.rube-goldberg.com/index.html

 

http://www.teachersdomain.org

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Simulations 

Professor Fizzwizzle

 

Build a Rube Goldberg Machine

 

Create your own Compound machine similar to contraptions- This is fun

http://kids.discovery.com/games/whizzball/whizzball.html

 

Even More Contraptions is downloaded on your computer

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Experiment 

 

Use the link below to put together a compound machine to move the ball into the cup!

http://inventionatplay.org/playhouse_tinker.html

 

Cloud creator

http://inventionatplay.org/playhouse_cloud.html

 

Puzzlemaker

http://inventionatplay.org/playhouse_puzzle.html

 

Word Play

http://inventionatplay.org/playhouse_wordplay.html

 

 

Biographies

http://inventionatplay.org/inventors_main.html

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Project:

Review infor at http://www.coe.uh.edu/archive/science

 

1. Name each of the simple machines and explain what each one does in your own words (18 points)

 

2. Draw ten examples of each that are used in everyday life. You can sketch by hand, use sketch-up, kid pix, or GIMP. Try to come up with different ones than those used in the tutorial.

 

3. What is the formula for work ?  http://library.thinkquest.org/20991/gather/formula/data/300.html

http://www.physicsforums.com/archive/index.php/t-116620.html (6 points)

4.Create 7 word problems that use the formula for work. Solve each problem and show your work.

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Examples of Simple Machines

http://staff.harrisonburg.k12.va.us/~mwampole/1-resources/simple-machines/index.html

 

 

http://www.tooter4kids.com/Simple_Machines/

 

The Experiments

 

Springs 1	Gears 1
Springs 2	Gears 2
Springs At Home	Gears 3
Friction 1	Wheels At Home
Friction 2	Levers 1
Friction At Home	Levers 2
Overcoming Friction 1	Levers At Home
Overcoming Friction 2	Inclined Planes 1
Overcoming Friction At Home	Inclined Planes 2
Pulleys 1	Inclined Planes At Home
Pulleys 2

 

 

Assessment

 

simple-machines-pre-test.pdf

 

Online practice quiz http://www.quia.com/pop/36854.html?AP_rand=453569407

 

 

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