1. Wheel and Axle
Lever
Simple Machines
Pulley
Screw
Wedge
Inclined Plane

2. Why are they Useful?
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.

3. Example
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?

4. What Did You Do?

5. You got the proper tool, such as a screw driver
or wrench,
and unscrewed it!

6. Why is it that it's so easy to unscrew with a tool when you can't with your bare hands?

7. 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

8. 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.

9. Let's Take a Look at Them

10. Click Here to Learn More
Levers
Lever
Load
Fulcrum

11. Inclined Plane
Click on the dude to learn more.

12. Screw A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a post.
Click on the light bulb to learn more.

13. Wedge Two inclined planes make a wedge.
Try to catch the saw to learn more.

14. Wheel and Axle
Click on the windmill to learn more.
Wheel
Axle

15. Pulleys
Wheel
Rope
This box is easier to lift because of the pulley. Click on it to learn more.

16. Have you learned it all yet? Let’s look at a worksheet to see.
Click Here

17. Are you ready for a
quiz on the Internet?
Click above

18. Now it’s time to link to Inspiration
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.

19. You are now a simple
machine expert. Share
your knowledge
with your parents
over dinner.

20. The
End