Simple Machines

Anna and Theresa

This is an inclined plane. An inclined plane is a slanting surface that connects a lower surface to a higher surface. A real-world example of an inclined plane is a wheelchair ramp. A wheelchair ramp makes it easier to transport wheelchairs by giving them a flat surface instead of stairs.

This is a lever. A lever is a board that pivots on a fulcrum. A lever pulls up and down by gentle force. The example of a lever is a seesaw. A seesaw has one person on each side of it. The fulcrum shifts the weight so it goes up and down easily.

This is a pulley. A pulley is a wheel that pulls things up or down by using a rope. The real-world example of a pulley is a flagpole. The pulley makes this work easier by omitting the person having to climb up the pole to pull the flag up or push it down.

This is a screw. A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder which helps us by holding things together. The real-world example of a screw is a lightbulb. A lightbulb has a screw at the bottom. This makes the work easier by holding the lightbulb in place.

This is a wedge. A wedge is two inclined planes back-to-back which can be used to divide (like a knife) and stop (like a door wedge). The real-world example of a wedge is a door wedge. It makes work easier by holding the door open so no one has to physically hold it by wedging itself in-between the door and the floor so that the door does not swing closed.

This is a wheel and axle. A wheel and axle is a wheel with a rod through it. The real-world examples of a wheel and axle that we show here are the wheels on a motorcycle and the dumbbell. The wheels on the motorcycle make riding it easier by rolling so that the motorcycle moves.