The Six Simple Machines

Lab Brief #1

🎯 Your mission

Master the concept. Use it tomorrow.

⚡ The twist

The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.

What you'll learn

Simple machines make work easier by changing the direction or amount of force needed. The six simple machines are lever, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, screw, and wheel and axle.

Key words

direction
The way something moves or points, like up, down, or left.
force
A push or pull that can make an object move or stop.
work
Using force to move an object over a distance.

Make a hypothesis first

Predict: what happens if you double the force?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Build a simple circuit using a battery, wire, and light bulb. Then add a switch and test what happens when you open and close it.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Compare the before and after states.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write your conclusion: did the results match your hypothesis? What would you change next time?

Question 1 of 3

Which simple machine is a ramp?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 3

Which is NOT a simple machine?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 3 of 3

What is inertia?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🔥 A bolt of lightning is 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

Next: Inclined Planes and Ramps All lessons

🎯

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”

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