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Simple Machines by Uberstix

Step 1. Assemble the UberStix/Mini-Pult and test it for distance with a cotton ball. See instructions included.
Step 2. Read the descriptions of the six simple machines below and determine which simple machine is at work.

Inclined Plane

An inclined plane is a flat surface that is higher at one end. You can use this simple machine to move an object from a lower place to a higher place or from a higher place to a lower place. Think of a slide. It requires less energy to go down a slide then to climb up the ladder. Conversely, it is easer to push a box of books up the inclined plane (the slide) than to lift them up the ladder.

Wedge

Turn an inclined plane on end (the pointed end) and you have a wedge. A common wedge would be an axe blade. Think of the edge of the blade, it’s the edge of a smooth slanted surface. You can use this edge to push things apart, as when using an axe to split wood. Another common wedge is a nail. There is a sharp edge on the nail because it has two or more inclined planes joined together. This lets the nail separate the wood as you hammer.

Screw

A screw is a simple machine that is made from another simple machine. It is actually an inclined plane that winds around itself (think of a circular slide at the playground). Some screws are used to lower and raise things such as the lid on a jar. When you turn the lid, it raises or lowers. Screws are also used to hold objects together.

Lever

If a nail was imbedded in a board and you tried to pull it straight out, you would probably not succeed. If you did, the release of uncontrolled energy may result in injury to you or someone nearby. Now use a nail removing crowbar for the task, and with very little effort, you can extract the nail in a controlled manner. The fulcrum is the key, because it multiplies the force you are applying. Any tool that pries something loose is a lever. A lever is an arm that “pivots” (or turns) against a “fulcrum” (or point).

Wheel and Axle

You have seen a wheel and axle on a bicycle. The wheel and axle help move objects across distances. The wheel rotates around the axle, resulting in movement. The axle turns when force is applied to the wheel. You have also seen a wheel (in the form of a tire) and axle on a car. Now, think about the engine. Much of the engine of the car relies on the principal of the wheel and axle in the form of gears and another simple machine, the pulley. A clock with a rotating hour and minute hand is another example of a wheel and axle at work.

Pulley

A variation of the wheel and axle is the pulley. In a pulley, a cord wraps around a wheel that typically has a groove for the cord. One part of the cord is attached to the load. When you pull on one side of the pulley cord, the wheel turns and the load will move. Now, attach a hook to the cord, and you can use the wheel’s rotation to raise and lower objects. On a flagpole for example, a rope is attached to a pulley. On the rope, there are usually two metal hooks for the flag. The cord rotates around the pulley and lowers the hooks where you can attach the flag. Then, when you rotate the cord, the flag raises until it reaches the pulley at the top of the pole. In a car engine, pulleys are used to transfer energy (rotating movement) from one wheel and axel to another.

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