Lesson 6 of 84 · Forces
Lesson⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabSimple Machines: The Lever
Simple Machines: The Lever.
🎯 Your mission
Master the concept. Use it tomorrow.
⚡ The twist
The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.
Mind = Blown
🔥 A bolt of lightning is 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what happens if you double the force?
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
- momentum
- acceleration
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
You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life 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.”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
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Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
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