Simple

Machines

January 17, 2006

Past Episodes

GET A MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE when you visit these LINKS

Pulley Find and identify simple machines at the interactive House and Tool Shed! http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/index.htm

Learn how forces and simple machines can work together to create The Odd Machine! http://www.edheads.org/activities/odd_machine/

What was the first simple machine? Find out the history of simple machines at... What is a Simple Machine?

http://www.sirinet.net/~jgjohnso/simple.html

Are you an inventor? Then you probably use simple machines as did these inventors. Cave Man invents the Wheel

Inventor's Toolbox http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/InventorsToolbox.html

These devices were all in common use for centuries before Leonardo da Vinci's time. Each one makes work easier to do by providing some trade-off between the force applied and the distance over which the force is applied.

Challenge yourself with the Simple Machine Quiz http://www.mikids.com/SimpleMachines/smquiz.htm

Using a Ramp Discover how simple machines have been used through the ages at these PBS websites.

Design a working model of a trebuchet and demonstrate the power of a Class 1 lever. Secrets of Lost Empires II -- Medieval Siege http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/27ms_sle2treb.html
Utilize an understanding of how a lever works to lift an obelisk, using as few of the weights and support stones as possible in this online interactive activity.
Secrets of Lost Empires II: Lever an Obelisk http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/obelisk/lift.html
Interpret incomplete information by looking at something that exists to figure out how it works in order to build a simple wheel-and-axle machine.
Supersonic Spies http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/2503_superson.html
Describe how complex machines are created from simple machines, and design and build a device that that can lift an object and then drop it into a specific location.
MIT Competition: Battle of the Crazy Machines
http://www.pbs.org/safarchive/4_class/45_pguides/pguide_301/4531_mit.html

Gears This Sketching Activity from Science Learning Network leads students to a better understanding of how machines work through close observation. http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/SketchGadgetAnatomy.html

Check out the Online Exhibit of Simple Machines from COSI-Hand-on Science Centers. (for upper elementary grade levels) http://www.cosi.org/onlineExhbits/simpMach/sm1.html

This is a series of experiments about simple machines: levers, wheels and inclined planes.(Third Grade) http://www.galaxy.net/~k12/machines/index.shtml

Investigate and report on Simple Machines from Scholastic
Teacher Guide http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirtrep/simple/tguide.htm

A few lesson plans about Force and Motion for the 2nd grade teacher. http://www.cape.k12.mo.us/blanchard/hicks/News%20Pages/scienceforce.htm

The Franklin Institute website called "Simple Machines" http://sln.fi.edu/qa97/spotlight3/spotlight3.html

This simple demonstration from the Franklin Institute shows how a screw is actually an inclined plane http://sln.fi.edu/qa97/spotlight3/screwdemo.html

Careers in Science from The Franklin Institute http://sln.fi.edu/careers/careers_flash.html

Pulley From the University of Utah...Join a special crew as they "accept the challenge to assist in the completion of a city being constructed of massive stones. They must work without the advantage of modern technology. They have agreed to rely primarily on the use of the six simple machines to accomplish their mission."

http://sunshine.chpc.utah.edu/javalabs/java12/machine/index.htm

Learn how forces and simple machines can work together to create The Odd Machine! The Odd Machine Teacher's Guide for grades 2-6. http://www.edheads.org/activities/odd_machine/index.htm

Screwdriver At the Inventor of the Week from MIT you can browse by inventor or by invention. http://web.mit.edu/invent/i-archive.html
You can also " Learn more about invention with our interactive games and monthly Trivia Challenge." http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/ima/games.html

Here is another list of resources for teachers from the Kennesaw, GA school system. http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/simmach.html

Follow these links to:

SIMPLE MACHINE FACTS VOCABULARY REFERENCES