Lesson 31 of 84 · Energy
Lesson⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabWedges and Screws in Everyday Life
Wedges and Screws in Everyday Life.
🎯 Your mission
Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.
⚡ The twist
The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.
Mind = Blown
🎢 You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what happens if you double the force?
What You'll Learn
A force is a push or pull that can change an object's motion, shape, or direction. Forces are measured in Newtons and can act through contact or at a distance.
Key Words
- wheel and axle
- gravity
- friction
Steps
Read about Energy and write down three key facts.
Create a Rube Goldberg machine with at least 5 steps that demonstrates energy transfer from one form to another.
Use your senses (except taste) to describe what you notice.
Write a summary of your findings in 3-5 sentences.
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.
Checkout complete lesson on Energy for 8th Grade
Get the full Energy track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.