Types of Simple Machines
Inclined planes wrapped around cylinder
Main Topic
Screw
Any slanting surface
Used to hold things together or lift materials
Inclined plane helps metal move through wood
Examples: wine opener, bottle lids, globe
Connects lower level to higher level
Move heavy objects up plane
Known as a Ramp
Incline
Plane
Main Topic
Sharp edge of inclined plane
Main Topic
Wedge
Examples: slide, ramp loading luggage
on aeroplane, ladder
Examples: bread knife, axe, chisel
SIMPLE
Main Idea
MACHINES
Rod through center - axle
Wheels connected to axle
Moves objects faster across
surface
Pushes things apart or cuts through things
Toothed or pegged wheels
Wheel &
Main
Topic
Axle
Main
Topic
Gears
Meshed together - movement
transferred from one to other
Examples: hand drills, bicycles, egg
beaters
Area touching ground reduced less friction, moves faster
Examples: car, wheelbarrow,
windmill
Lever
Main Topic
Stiff bar, resting on a support or pivoting
around a support
Support is called fulcrum
Fulcrum lifts object when force is applied
Levers increase force
Examples; tin openers, see-saws, pedal dustbins
Pulley
Main Topic
Grooved wheels & system of ropes
Heavy loads lifted - direction of force applied is changed
Load lifted by pulling rope - easier than lifting
object by hand
Examples: flags, rock climbers' pulleys, blinds
Terminology: Simple Machines
Term
Definition
Machine
A machine is a tool to make work easier.
Functions of machines
Machines help us to lift, pull, push, turn, cut and join.
Simple machines
Machines made up of only one part.
Compound/complex machines
Machines made up of many parts. It consists of two or more simple
machines working together.
Incline plane
A ramp or slanting surface connecting a lower level to a higher level.
Function of an incline plane
To move heavy objects by sliding it on the slanting surface.
Wedge
A sharp edge of an inclined plane.
Function of a wedge
To push things apart or to cut through things.
Screw
An inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder.
Function of a wedge
Used to hold things together or to lift materials.
Wheel and axle
A rod (called an axle) through the center with wheels at the end (can be one
or two wheels)
Function of the wheel and axle
To transport objects, materials, people over a surface or an area at a faster
speed.
Lever
Stiff/ rigid bar resting or a support (called a fulcrum). The bar pivots around
the fulcrum when force is applied.
Fulcrum
The support on which a stiff bar is resting in a lever.
Function of a lever
The force applied to an object is increased by using a lever, therefore levers
are used to move heavy objects.
Class 1 Lever
Effort is on one side of the fulcrum
Fulcrum is the middle
Load on the other side of the fulcrum.
Class 2 Lever
Effort is applied on one side of the load
Load is in the middle
Fulcrum is on the other side of the load
Class 3 Lever
Load is on the one side of the effort
Effort is in the middle
Fulcrum is on the other side of the effort
Terminology: Simple Machines
Term
Definition
Gears
Toothed or pegged wheels that are meshed together. Movement is
transferred from one gear to another.
Function of gears
Transferring movement energy from one part of a machine to another part.
Pulley
A pulley is a system of grooved wheels and ropes. Heavy loads can be lifted
when the direction of the force applied is changed.
Function of pulley system
To lift heavy objects by pulling on the ropes of the pulley system.
Terminology: Simple Machines
Term
Machine
Functions of machines
Simple machines
Compound/complex machines
Incline plane
Function of an incline plane
Wedge
Function of a wedge
Screw
Function of a screw
Wheel and axle
Function of the wheel and axle
Lever
Fulcrum
Function of a lever
Class 1 Lever
Class 2 Lever
Class 3 Lever
Definition
Terminology: Simple Machines
Term
Gears
Function of gears
Pulley
Function of pulley system
Definition