Simple Machines Unit Three Vocabulary

compound machine

A combination of simple machines to do work.

energy

The ability for doing work.

force

Action that changes an object’s state of rest or motion

friction

Resistance between two forms of matter when they move against each other.

fulcrum

The support around which a lever turns.

gears

Wheels with teeth used to change force, or change the direction of force.

Inclined plane

A simple machine used to lift or lower objects along a slope using the least force; a ramp.

labor

Human effort in making or doing work.

lever

A device which turns on a fulcrum to change effort into motion.

machines

Devices of fixed and moving parts used for doing work.

mechanical

Made or worked on by machinery or tools.

movement

The result of using machines to do work.

pulley

A grooved wheel with a rope used to change direction using less force.

ramp

A sloped or inclined passage used to connect to different levels.

resistance

An opposite force

screw

An inclined plane twisted around a cylinder. It can be used to hold objects.

wedge

A piece of hard material, thick at one end and thin at the other used to raise heavy objects or split wood, rocks, etc.

wheels

Any instrument, circular shaped and moving like a wheel around an axle.

work

Something done, made, or moved as a result of effort Work = force times distance (W = F x D)

gravity

The force that gives weight.