Simple Machines

 

                                                    

 

Directions:   Use the following website to answer/complete the questions below.

                    http://www.cosi.org/onlineexhibits/simpmach/sm1.html

 

Click on “What is a simple machine” to answer the following questions

 

1.  What is work? ______________________________________________________________
2.  Why do we use machines to perform work? _____________________________________
3. What are the two basic machine families?

___________________________________          ___________________________________

4. What is mechanical advantage? ________________________________________________
5. In the example, what advantage is there to using the pulley to lift an object?

___________________________________________________________________________

6. What is the disadvantage of the pulley?

___________________________________________________________________________

7. How does friction affect the mechanical advantage of a machine?

___________________________________________________________________________

Click on one of the six simple machines to answer the following questions:

1. How do you find the mechanical advantage (MA) of a lever?

___________________________________________________________________________

2. Complete the following chart to describe the three types of levers:

Class of Lever                            Purpose of Lever                       Example

__________________                    Changes the force                       __________________

Second Class Lever                     ___________________                  __________________

__________________                    ___________________                  shovel, tweezers

3. What is the advantage of using an inclined plane? What is the stick man trying to avoid? ___________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the equation for finding the mechanical advantage of an inclined plane?

MA = __________________________________

5. What is a quick way of finding the mechanical advantage of a pulley?

___________________________________________________________________________

6. What are the advantages of using a wheel and axel? ___________________________________________________________________________
7. How do you calculate the mechanical advantage of a wheel and axel?

___________________________________________________________________________

8. How is a wedge used as a simple machine? ______________________________________
9. Why is it one of the least efficient machines? ___________________________________
10.  A screw is usually used in combination with which other simple machines? ___________________________________________________________________________
11.  What is the “pitch” of a screw? _______________________________________________

 

Click on “Find the simple machines” at the bottom of the page: Use the thumbnails to find and correctly identify the six simple machines in the lawn mower.

Lawn Mower Part                                                      Type of Simple Machine

1.            ____________________________                  _____________________________

2.            ____________________________                  _____________________________

3.            ____________________________                  _____________________________

4.            ____________________________                  _____________________________

5.            ____________________________                  _____________________________

6.            ____________________________                  _____________________________

 

Click on “Putting simple machines to work”: Answer the questions below to put your knowledge of simple machines to work!

1. Wheelbarrow ( 2^nd Class Lever):              Effort = _____________      MA = ____________

2. Ramp (Inclined Plane):                           MA = ________________

3. Hammer & Nail (Lever & Wedge):           Type of Lever = __________________

4. Block & Tackle (Pulley):                         Force = ___________________

5. Screw (Screw):                                       Least amount of effort = __________________

6. Concept of Work:                                   How much work is saved? __________________

 

For additional information and enlightenment you may access the following sites based on your teachers’ instructions.

 

Interact and identify simple machines at the following website.  Use headphones.

http://edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/index.htm

 

First play the movie then play the quiz to answer the questions.  Use headphones.

http://www.brainpop.com/technology/simplemachines/lever/

 

Go under Resources and click on the Lever activity (this one has sounds too!)

http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/sthroop/machinequest.htm

 

Check out and fill in the interactive online crossword on simple machines at:

http://home.earthlink.net/~kandyhig/sm/cross-p/cross-3.htm

 

Also, a matching quiz for simple machines at the same site

http://home.earthlink.net/~kandyhig/sm/matching.htm

  

Another informative website on simple machines with graphics!

http://www.sirinet.net/~jgjohnso/simple.html