The document describes 6 simple machines: the inclined plane, lever, wedge, pulley, wheel and axle, and screw. Each machine is defined and examples are provided of how they are used in everyday objects like stairs, seesaws, knives, blinds, bicycles, and screws. The simple machines are able to multiply force, change the direction of force, or provide a mechanical advantage using levers, inclined planes, wheels and other basic mechanisms.

1. Simple MachinesBy Earl Chough

2. Incline PlaneIncline plane is a flat surface whose endpoints are at different heights. By moving an object up an inclined plane rather than completely vertical, the amount of force required is reduced, at the expense of increasing the distance the object must travel.A staircase would be a incline plane because it increase the length but reduces energy used.A ramp is exactly like the, increase distance but decreases energy used, except it does not have any stairs.

3. LeverA lever is a rigid object that is used with an appropriate fulcrum or pivot point to multiply the mechanical force that can be applied to another object.A seesaw would be a lever because it has a fulcrum in the middle moving the two people on it.A broom is another lever because the lower hand is the fulcrum and it while you top hand pushes it, the bottom sweep movies in an opposite direction and vice-versa.

4. WedgeA wedge is a triangular shaped tool, a compound and portable inclined plane, and one of the six classical simple machines. It can be used to separate two objects or portions of an object, lift an object, or hold an object in place.A nail is a wedge because it penetrates two objects to hold something in place.A knife is a wedge because it separates objects into two or cuts materials.

5. PulleyPulleys are machines used to change the direction of an applied force, transmit rotational motion, or realize a mechanical advantage in either a linear or rotational system of motion.Blinds are an example of a pulley because while one side of the rope goes down, the other side goes up pulling the blinds up and down.A flagpole is also a pulley because it moves the flag up and down.

6. Wheel and AxleA wheel and axle is a modified lever of the first class that rotates in a circle around a center point or fulcrum.A wheel is an example of a wheel and axle because it rotates around a center point.A bicycle is an example of a wheel and axle because it has wheels.

7. ScrewA screw is a shaft with some type of helical groove or thread formed on its surface.An example would be a screw because it has thread formed on its surface.A second example would be a twist lid for a container.