Machines and Work
A 1-week Study of Leonardo da
Vinci and His Contributions to the
Physics of Simple Machines
Introduction
• You are about to embark on a journey to
discover all of the amazing things that
Leonardo da Vinci contributed to the
creation of simple machines. In doing so,
you will also be uncovering the scientific
meaning of the terms ―work‖ & ―power‖.
(It’s not what you think!)
Intro. (continued)
• Through this assignment, it is my hope
that you will be able to:
• 1) explain the difference between work
and power,
• 2) perform some basic calculations, &
• 3) identify and give examples of the six
types of simple machines.
Academic Knowledge & Skills
• 15: Examine the mechanisms of simple machines and the effect
they have on work.
• 15b: Analyze the relationship between work, power and time
• 15c: Explain how machines make work easier
• 15c1: Describe the six types of simple machines and give an
example of each
• 15c2: identify the simple machines that make up a compound
machine
• 15d: Investigate mechanical advantage
• 15e: (extension) design a Rube Goldberg device including 2 to 3
simple machines to demonstrate knowledge of simple machines
forming a compound machine to do work
The Task
• Collect information about Leonardo da
Vinci from the listed websites.
• Create a PowerPoint presentation with at
least seven slides of information that
follow the guiding questions given.
• Present your PowerPoint to the class.
• Construct a simple or compound machine
to display and explain to the class.
The Process
• ―Visit the following websites and take
notes that answer the questions listed.
• You might want to save some graphics to
include in your presentation about da Vinci
and the types of simple machines.‖
(Sample, K.)
• (1) Collect general biographical
information about Leonardo da Vinci that
tells you when he lived, where he lived,
how he got started with scientific
inventions, etc. Gather facts that will fit
well as your introduction to this scientist.
• Leonardo da Vinci | Renaissance Man
• Leonardo da Vinci Biography Biography.com
Intro.2
• (2) What types of inventions did Leonardo
conceive hundreds of years before their
time?
• Leonardo Home Page
• Inventions and Engineering by Leonardo
Da Vinci
• Leonardo Da Vinci and His Flying
Machines
• National Museum of Science and
Technology Leonardo da Vinci – Milano
Intro.2
• (3) What are the 6 types of simple
machines? Give visual examples of each.
Simple Machines
MI Kids.com - Simple Machines
Edheads - Simple Machines Activities Lever - Pulley - Wedge - Screw - Inclined
Plane - Wheel and Axle - Gear
Intro.2
• (4) Explain how machines make work
easier.
• Engineering is Elementary | Marvelous
Machines: Making Work Easier
• "inQuiry Almanack" - Spotlighting... March, 1997
• Simple Machines
Intro.2
• (5) Explain the difference between ―power‖
and ―work‖.
• Power, Work and Energy, Science,
Science Tutoring, Science Help, Online
Science Tutoring - Tutorvista.com
• WORK, ENERGY AND POWER
• Power
Intro.2
• (6) Identify the simple machines that make
up a compound machine.
• Simple and Compound machines
• Compound Machines (Work, Energy, and
the Simple Machine: Compound
Machines) – Cosmeo
• Compound Machine
Intro.2
• (7) What is ―mechanical advantage‖?
Analyze the mechanical advantage
provided by each simple machine.
• machine: Mechanical Advantage and
Efficiency of Machines — Infoplease.com
• machine: Mechanical Advantage and
Efficiency of Machines —
FactMonster.com
• Simple Machines -- Mechanical Advantage
Intro.2
Construction
• You and your partner are responsible for
constructing a simple or compound
machine. You may choose one from the
links on the next pages or you may
construct one from the information you
learn in class and from your text. Please
make sure your invention works!!
Construction Links
• Rube Goldberg Activity
• Shoebox - Science Museum of Minnesota
• Motion Machine - Science Museum of
Minnesota
• The Incredible Lever
• Machines Table Of Contents
• INCLINED PLANE
• WHEEL AND AXLE
Construction Links
•
•
•
•
•
PULLEY
WEDGE
Screw
Screws – 2
LEVER
Evaluation
• The four tasks involved in this project:
(1) Collecting information,
(2) Creating a power point,
(3) Presenting the power point,
(4) Creating a machine
will be evaluated using the following rubric.
Rubric
Beginning
1
Developing
2
Accomplished
3
Exemplary
4
Information
gathered
through web
research
Less than half of the
listed questions
answered through
research
Most listed questions
answered through
research reflecting
development and
movement toward
mastery of task.
All questions
answered through
research reflecting
mastery of task.
All questions
answered and
additional information
included in research
reflecting the highest
level of performance.
Power-point
presentation
Completion of less
than 7 slides of
information reflecting
a beginning level of
performance.
Completion of all 7
slides of information
reflecting
development and
movement toward
mastery of task.
Completion of 7
slides of information
with graphics
included reflecting
mastery of task.
Completion of more
than 7 slides of
information with
graphics and sounds
included reflecting
the highest level of
performance.
Class
Presentation
Student did not
present (0)
n/a
n/a
Student presented all
information
researched.
Construction is stable
and recognizable in
regard to the
definition of simple
machines.
Construction is well
organized reflecting
some details and
developing and
moving toward
mastery of task.
Construction
demonstrates many
of the components of
simple machines and
shows an effort
reflecting mastery of
task.
Construction showed
in-depth planning,
insight and in-depth
details showing an
effort to reflect the
highest level of
performance.
Construction