Science Week 2013
Let’s investigate: Levers
Vocabulary "
Fulcrum: Point about
which a lever turns or
pivots"
Effort arm: Distance
from fulcrum to point
where force is applied"
Load arm: Distance from
fulcrum to point where
load is applied"
Some examples of
levers
Scale, stapler, hammer,
seesaw, bottle opener,
bike handbrake. shovel"
Archimedes once said, "Give me a
place to stand and I can move the
world." What he meant was that if he
could stand far enough away from the
earth he could use a lever to move it.
Levers use distance to make heavy
objects easier to move. The goal of
this experiment is to demonstrate how
a lever reduces the amount of force
needed to move objects.
Aim: The aim of the investigation is to find out how levers work."
"
Materials: 2 pencils, a ruler, some heavy books, a ball pen and this worksheet."
"
Hypothesis: What do you think? Tell your classmates."
"
Method: Try to pick up the book using your fingers. Get a ruler, a pencil and a
book. Use the pencil as a fulcrum. Place the book on one end of the ruler. Push
down on the opposite end while varying the distance of the fulcrum. Does your
effort increase or decrease as the fulcrum moves closer to you? (The closer the
fulcrum is to the object, the easier it is to lift.)"
"
Record:!
Levers around
you
Position/Effort
How many levers can you
find around you?"
First position
Write them down here:"
Easy
Moderate
Difficult
Very difficult
Without lever
Second position
Third position
1. _________________"
2. _________________"
3. _________________"
4. _________________"
5. _________________"
6. _________________"
7. _________________"
8. _________________
Conclusion:!
How do levers reduce the amount of force needed to move objects?"
"
It is __________________ to lift a ______________ without a _____________"
When we use ____________ to __________ a book the effort _____________"
The effort ________________ if the ________________ is close to the book."
The effort ________________ if the ________________ is far from the book."
A lever _______________ the amount of __________ needed to lift the book."
A lever helps us to push, pull or lift things."
A lever is a simple machine very _____________"
"
Communication:!
We’ll publish our conclusion and some photos on our blog classpeek.me