Simple machine facts for kids
A simple machine is a basic tool that helps us do work more easily. It can change how a force is used. This might mean changing its direction, how strong it feels, or where you push or pull. All bigger, more complex machines are built from these simple ones.
People have used simple machines for thousands of years. Even early humans, like homo habilis, used basic tools that were simple machines. Some animals also use them in nature!
A compound machine is a machine made by putting two or more simple machines together. Think of a bicycle, which uses wheels, levers (like the handlebars), and pulleys (in the gears).
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What Are Simple Machines?
Scientists from the Renaissance era identified six main types of simple machines. Each one helps us do work in a different way.
The Lever
A lever is a stiff bar that pivots, or turns, around a fixed point called a fulcrum. Think of a seesaw or a crowbar. Levers help you lift heavy objects, open things, or apply force in a new direction.
The Wheel and Axle
The wheel and axle system is made of a wheel attached to a rod called an axle. When the wheel turns, the axle turns too. This machine helps move things easily and changes the direction of force, like on a bicycle or a doorknob.
The Pulley
A pulley is a wheel with a groove, usually with a rope or cable running around it. Pulleys help lift heavy objects by changing the direction of your pull. They can also make a heavy load feel lighter by spreading the effort.
The Inclined Plane
An inclined plane is simply a flat surface that is higher at one end, like a ramp. It makes it easier to move objects up or down by spreading the work over a longer distance. Instead of lifting something straight up, you push it up a ramp.
The Wedge
A wedge is like two inclined planes joined together. It has a thick end and a thin, sharp end. Wedges are used to split things apart, like an axe splitting wood, or to hold things in place, like a doorstop.
The Screw
A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a central rod. When you turn a screw, it moves forward or backward in a straight line. Screws are great for holding things together, like in wood or metal, or for lifting heavy objects slowly, like a car jack.
Images for kids
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The six classical simple machines
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Screws are used in many fasteners like bolts.
See also
In Spanish: Máquina simple para niños
