Lesson 37 of 84 ยท Forces
Lessonโญ 30 XPโก Spark LabSimple Machines: The Lever (Part 2)
Simple Machines: The Lever (Part 2).
๐ฏ Your mission
Understand the idea. Then look for it everywhere.
โก The twist
Energy never disappears โ it just hides somewhere else.
Mind = Blown
๐ข You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: which will move faster, and why?
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
โShow me something at home that uses this kind of energy.โ
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.
Checkout complete lesson on Forces for 7th Grade
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