This document defines and describes various simple machines and their components. Simple machines include the inclined plane, lever, wedge, screw, pulley, wheel and axle, and others. They are tools that use force to make work easier by changing either the size or direction of the applied force. A compound machine is made up of two or more simple machines combined.

1. Force
A push or pull that can change the way something
moves

2. Simple Machine
A tool that uses force to make work easier.

3. Inclined plane
A simple machine with a
flat surface whose
endpoints are at
different heights.

4. effort
The total Work
done to achieve
an outcome

5. Lever
A stiff bar that moves freely around a fixed
point.

6. fulcrum
The pivot point

7. Class one lever
when the fulcrum is flanked by the
effort and the load

8. Class Two lever
the load in the middle of the
fulcrum and the effort

9. Class three lever
the effort lies between the
load and fulcrum

10. wedge
two inclined planes in a v-
shape

11. Outward force
Push outward

12. Downward force
Push down

13. screw
An inclined plane wrapped around a column

14. shaft
The long part of the screw

15. head
The top of the screw

16. pulley
A rope fitted around the rim of a fixed wheel.

17. Fixed pulley
The wheel does not move, making the effort
force change direction

18. Moveable pulley
This type of pulley increases the force’s size. By
pulling a rope, both the load and the pulley
raise

19. Wheel and axle
Two cylinders that turn on the same axis

20. friction
A force that slows or stops motion between two
surfaces that are touching

21. Compound machine
A machine made up
of two or more
simple machines