This document provides information about simple machines. It describes the six basic simple machines: inclined plane, lever, pulley, wedge, wheel and axle, and screw. It explains that simple machines make work easier by changing the amount of force needed, the distance over which force is applied, or the direction of the applied force. The document gives examples of each type of simple machine and discusses how compound machines are combinations of two or more simple machines. It also defines mechanical advantage as the ratio of output force to input force and efficiency as the ratio of output work to input work.

1. Simple Machines
(Making work easier…phew!)

2. Simple Machines
Foldable
• Line up your papers
about 1-2 cm apart,
so that you see “5,
6, 7, 8” along the
bottom.
• Fold the papers
over so you see all
8 numbers in a row.
8.Changing Force
6. Screw
5. Wheel and axle
9.Mechanical Advantage and
Efficiency
3. Pulley
2 Lever
1 Inclined Plane
…making work easier and better 
7.Compound/Complex Machine
4. Wedge

3. Simple Machines
Foldable
• On each tab, draw
and describe that
type of simple
machine.
• Then give 2-3
examples.
• Make sure to include
all of the information!
8 Simple Machine Notes
7 Lever
6 Pulley
5 Wheel & Axle
4 Wedge
3 Screw
2 Inclined Plane
Draw & Describe:
A sloped surface connecting a
lower level to a higher level.
Examples:
A boat ramp, wheelchair
ramp,propeller, ladder/stairs

4. What are MACHINES?
• Most people think of complex, technical,
or electronic gadgets with motors…, but
machines can be much SIMPLER.
• A machine is any device that lets you do
WORK in an EASIER or BETTER way.
• Basically:
Simple machines make work EASIER.

5. How do machines do work?
• Machines make work easier by changing
3 things about the FORCE you exert to
do work:
 AMOUNT OF FORCE you exert
 DISTANCE over which you exert
force
 DIRECTION in which you exert force

6. What are SIMPLE MACHINES?
• There are only 6 basic simple
machines that make work easier:
• Inclined Plane
• Wedge
• Screw
• Lever
• Wheel & Axle
• Pulley

7. WORK & SIMPLE MACHINES
• Simple machines DON’T change the
amount of WORK done!
(They change the size, distance or
direction of your FORCE!)
WORK IN = WORK OUT*
(*usually machines lose a bit of work
due to FRICTION…)

8. INCLINED PLANE
• An inclined plane is a flat, sloped surface.
It connects a lower level to a higher level.
• You use less force over a longer distance
to raise a load to a higher level.
Input Force
Output
Force

9. INCLINED PLANE:
Examples
• Ramps (Boat ramps, wheelchair ramps)
• Ladders/Stairs

10. LEVER
• A lever is a bar that pivots or rotates
on a point (called a fulcrum).
• Levers may change the size, distance
or direction of the force.

11. LEVERS:
Examples & Uses
• First Class Levers:
– Scissors, See-saws, Pliers
• Second Class Levers:
– Staplers, Nutcrackers,
Wheelbarrows
• Third Class Levers
– Shovels, baseball bats, tweezers

12. PULLEY
• A pulley is a grooved wheel with a rope,
used to raise/lower/move a load.
• Pulley systems change the direction
and/or decrease the input force so you
can move heavier loads.
Output
Force
Input
Force
Output
Force
Input
Force

13. PULLEY:
Examples & Uses
• Cranes
• Raising a flag on a pole
• Window Blinds
• Raising a sail on a boat
• Clothesline

14. WEDGE
• A wedge has slanting slides that meet at
an edge – it splits material apart.
• It changes force in one direction into a
splitting force that acts at right angles
to the blade.
Input Force
Output Force
Output Force

15. WEDGE:
Examples & Uses
• Ax, Knife, etc.
• Zippers
• Used in all cutting machines (to split
materials apart)

16. WHEEL & AXLE
• The wheel is locked to the central axle –
when one turns, so does the other one.
• A short powerful force at the axle, will move the
wheel’s edge a long distance.
• A long motion at edge of wheel, moves the axle
with great force.
Input
Force
Output
Force
Output
Force
Input
Force

17. WHEEL & AXLE:
Examples & Uses
• Screwdriver
• Windmill
• Cars/Bicycles
• Rolling Pin
• Door Knob
• Fan

18. SCREW
• A screw has a “thread” or “groove”
wrapped around a central cylinder.
• While turning, it converts a twisting
force into a forward or backward force.
Input
Force
Output
Force

19. SCREW:
Examples & Uses
• Screws can holds things together or
lift materials.
• Screws
• Screw top lids for jars/bottles
• Light bulb
• Swivel stools/chairs

20. Simple Machine Review!
Write the name of the type of simple machine next to the picture.

21. COMPOUND MACHINES
• Compound Machines – are made of combinations of two or
more simple machines.
• For example, a simple can opener is a combination of 3
simple machines:
– Lever
– Wheel & axle
– Wedge

22. Machines make work easier by
changing 3 things about the FORCE:
• The amount of force
• The distance of the force
• The direction of the force

23. Machines make work easier by
changing 3 things about the FORCE:
• The amount of force
(eg. A ramp lets you lift a heavy object
with LESS force)

24. Machines make work easier by
changing 3 things about the FORCE:
• The distance of the force
(eg. A baseball bat lets you move your
arms a short distance, but move the
end of the bat a large distance).

25. Machines make work easier by
changing 3 things about the FORCE:
• The direction of the force
(eg. The pulley on a set of window blinds
lets you move the blinds UP with a
DOWNWARD pull.

26. What is the mechanical
advantage of a machine?
• A machine’s mechanical advantage is
the number of times a machine
increases a force exerted on it.
(output divided by input)
• Mechanical = Output Force
Advantage Input Force

27. What is the mechanical
advantage of a machine?
You exert 10 N (input) of force on a can
opener. The can opener exerts 30 N
(output) of force on the can. What is
the mechanical advantage?
Mechanical = Output Force = 30 N
Advantage Input Force 10 N
Mechanical Advantage = 3

29. What is the efficiency of a
machine?
• The EFFICIENCY compares:
–the work you put IN to
–the work the machine puts OUT.
• An IDEAL machine is 100% efficient.
INPUT WORK = OUTPUT WORK
• In the real world, some input work is
always lost due to FRICTION between
the moving parts of the machine.

30. What is the efficiency of a
machine?
EFFICIENCY = Output Work x 100%
Input Work
You mow the lawn with a rusty lawn
mower. You do 50,000 J of work on
the lawn mower but only 25,000 J go
to cutting the lawn. What is the
efficiency of the lawn mower?

31. What is the efficiency of a
machine?
You mow the lawn with a rusty lawn mower.
You do 50,000 J of work on the lawn mower
but only 25,000 J go to cutting the lawn.
What is the efficiency of the lawn mower?
EFFICIENCY = Output Work x 100%
Input Work
Efficiency = 25,000 J x 100%
50,000 J
Efficiency = 50%

32. Try the rest of the practice
problems on your own…
Mechanical = Output Force
Advantage Input Force
EFFICIENCY = Output Work x 100%
Input Work

33. The next slides go on the back of your
foldable!
Topic: Work and Force
• Remember Science ROCKS!!! 

34. Evidence of Energy
= when work has been done.
• Work means:
1. Apply a force to an object over a distance.
2. Object moves in response to force.
Remember Force = push or a pull
Unbalanced force = movement
Balanced force = no change in movement
Spring Scale measures force and
Newtons (N) are the units!

35. If something changes motion = it has
energy!
Cause Effect
1.Toy car at rest is pushed It moves = energy evidence =work
2.Fan is connect to a electric circuit It spins(moves)= energy evidence=work
3.Object is lifted It rises(moves) = energy evidence=work
4. A student pushes a wall The wall does NOT move = no work
5.A student stands wears a heavy bag The students continues to stand = no work
You try:
6. A rocket accelerates through space
7. A book falls off the table
8. A girl sits on the bench