Simple Machines
Name ________________________________Date:___________Class:___________
www.sciencespot.net
Click on “Kids Zone” in upper right hand corner. Under Physics, click on “Simple
Machines”. Click on the appropriate title to complete the first part of this
assignment.
EdHeads Simple Machines
1. Click the “Start” button to start.
2. Select an activity (room) and follow the directions for each area to find the simple
machines and answer the related questions.
3. When you are finished with each section, write your score in the chart below. Put
on some headphones before you begin!
Garage
Bedroom
Kitchen
Bathroom
Tool Shed
____ out of
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____ out of
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____ out of
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____ out of
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____ out of
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EdHeads – Compound Machines
1. Click on the EdHeads “Compound Machines”.
2. Listen to the introduction and then click the yellow and blue lever to get started.
3. Answer the questions as your work your way through the activity. When you are
finished, record your score below and answer the question below.
Final Score: _________
Where was the plunger?
Rube Goldberg
1. Type in http://pbskids.org/zoom/games/goldburgertogo/
2. Read the introduction page and then read the instructions for completing the
activity. Answer the questions below:
a. While most machines work to make difficult tasks simple, his inventions made
____________ tasks amazingly ______________.
b. What is your job going to be as you complete this activity?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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c. How many different parts of the machine will you be able to change? _________
d. Describe your final Rube Goldberg contraption below:
Interactive Simple Machines
1. Type in http://sunshine.chpc.utah.edu/javalabs/java12/machine/index.htm
2. Explore the “Wedge & Lever” activity to answer these questions.
a. What is the task?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
b. Which length of wedge performs the task with the least amount of force (weight)?
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c. Complete this statement: The _______________ the wedge, the ______________ it
is to do work.
3. Click “Next” to proceed to the level experiment. Experiment with the lever by moving
the fulcrum to different locations.
a. Which fulcrum location required the least amount of effort force to lift the load?
__________________________________________________
b. Which fulcrum location required the most amount of effort force to life the load?
___________________________________________________
c. Which fulcrum location required us to push down the lever the least to lift the load?
___________________________________________________
4. Complete these statements:
a. The closer the fulcrum is to the load, the amount of effort force is required to lift
the load is __________.
b. The closer the fulcrum is to the load, the effort force must be applied over a
______________ distance.
5. Explore the “Ramp & Pulley” activity to answer these questions.
a. What is the task?
_________________________________________________________________
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b. Which length of ramp allows us to perform the task with the least amount of effort
force? ___________
6. Complete this statement:
a. The longer the ramp, the ___________ it is to do work, but we must apply the
force over a ____________ distance.
7. Return to the “Lab Menu” and explore the “Wheel & Axle” activity to answer these
questions.
a. What is the task?
_________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
b. A screw can be described as an _______________________________ wrapped
around an ___________________.
8. Experiment with the diameter of the wheel and the number of threads per meter on
the screw to help you answer these questions.
a. If the wheel diameter stays the same, how does the effort force change as the
number of threads per meter increases?
_______________________________________________________________
b. If the number of threads per meter stays the same, how does the increases the
wheel diameter affect the distance the gate is lifted?
______________________________________________________________
c. If the wheel diameter is 50 cm, how many threads per meter do you need to get an
effort force closest to 400 N?
______________________________________________________________
d. If the threads per meter are set to 5, what wheel diameter do you need to raise the
gate a distance closest to 22 meters? ___________
Go to the following site:
https://quizlet.com/40991296/force-and-simple-machines-flash-cards/
Play the scatter game. Record your time: ______________
If you are having trouble, print out a set of flashcards to help you review.
If time, complete two more activities at this site.