Lesson 6 of 84 · Forces
Lesson⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabSimple Machines: The Lever
Simple Machines: The Lever.
🎯 Your mission
Understand the idea. Then look for it everywhere.
⚡ The twist
Speed isn't the same as force. Don't mix them up.
Mind = Blown
🔥 A bolt of lightning is 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Make a hypothesis first
Guess: where does the energy go?
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
- speed
- direction
- force
Steps
Read about Forces and write down three key facts.
Build a simple motor using a battery, magnet, wire, and paper clip supports. Observe how electromagnetic forces create rotation.
Compare the before and after states.
Write your conclusion: did the results match your hypothesis? What would you change next time?
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3Which is NOT a simple machine?
Where you see this in real life
This is why airplanes can fly and why rockets reach space.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
This week, find one thing in your house that turns one kind of energy into another.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
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