Simple Machines
There are 6 simple machines that we'll cover.
1. Inclined plane (like a ramp)
2. Wedge (like an ax or a door stop)
3. Screw (like a...screw. Or a jar lid or drill bit)
4. Lever (like a crowbar or seesaw)
5. Pulley (like a crane or curtain draw strings)
6. Wheel and axle (like a bike)
Simple machines make work easier. Since work is force and distance multiplied all we have to do is change the variables. For example, it might take 20 Joules of work to climb up an inclined plane that is 5 meters long. That means we used a force of 4 Newtons.
Work = Force x Distance
20 Joules = 4 Newtons x 5 meters
Since force is what we put in, we'd like to make that number smaller. Now we can't change the amount of work that needs to be done. You can't get out of work! But if we change the distance of the inclined plane, then the force will change too.
Let's make the inclined plane 10 meters. We still have to do 20 Joules of work so that makes our force 2
20 Joules = 2 Newtons x 10 meters
2 Newtons is less than 4 Newtons so we've made the work easier. Not less. Just easier.
1. Inclined plane (like a ramp)
2. Wedge (like an ax or a door stop)
3. Screw (like a...screw. Or a jar lid or drill bit)
4. Lever (like a crowbar or seesaw)
5. Pulley (like a crane or curtain draw strings)
6. Wheel and axle (like a bike)
Simple machines make work easier. Since work is force and distance multiplied all we have to do is change the variables. For example, it might take 20 Joules of work to climb up an inclined plane that is 5 meters long. That means we used a force of 4 Newtons.
Work = Force x Distance
20 Joules = 4 Newtons x 5 meters
Since force is what we put in, we'd like to make that number smaller. Now we can't change the amount of work that needs to be done. You can't get out of work! But if we change the distance of the inclined plane, then the force will change too.
Let's make the inclined plane 10 meters. We still have to do 20 Joules of work so that makes our force 2
20 Joules = 2 Newtons x 10 meters
2 Newtons is less than 4 Newtons so we've made the work easier. Not less. Just easier.