SIMPLE MACHINE

1.

Which pair of devices does not use the principle of lever?

A
B
C
D

Screw and ladder

Fishing rod and pliers
Nutcracker and paper cutter
Wheel-barrow and bottle opener
PMR 2008

2.

Which crowbar uses the least effort to pull out the nail?

PMR 2008

Diagram 14 shows the position of a workers hands lifting sand using a spade.

Diagram 14
A
B
C
D

Move both hand to P.

Move the right hand to Q and the left hand to S.
Move the left hand to S without changing the position of the right hand.
Move the left hand to R without changing the position of the right hand.
PMR 2007

Diagram 15 shows a nail being pulled out uing tools, P and Q.

Diagram 15
Which of the following statements is correct about the effort that was used?
A
B
C
D

P needs less effort than Q to pull out the nail.

Q needs less effort than P to pull out the nail.
The distance of the nail from the fulcrum does not influence the effort used.
If the distance of effort is nearer to the fulcrum, the effort used will decreased.
PMR 2007

Diagram 4 shows the process of pruning leaves.

Diagram 4
The tool used can be classified as a first class lever because
A
B
C
D

The load is between the fulcrum and the force

The fulcrum is between the load and the force
The force is between the load and the fulcrum
The load is the same position as the fulcrum
PMR 2006

Diagram 20 shows a vegetable seller carrying two baskets, F and G. F has a mass of
40 kg and G has a mass of 60 kg. The distance between G and the seller is 1.0 m.

Diagram 20

A
B
C
D

What should be the distance between the seller and F in order to balance both the
baskets?
0.5m
1.0m
1.5m
2.5m
PMR 2006

The diagram shows a balanced lever system.

What is the load of X?

A
B
C
D

10N
20N
40N
80N
PMR 2005

The diagram shows a lever system. The distance between each of the point on the
lever is the same. At which A, B ,C or D should the fulcrum be, so that the lever is
balanced?

PMR 2004

Figure 1 shows a
(PMR 2005)

wheelbarrow.

Figure 1.1
(a) On Figure 1.1, label the position of the fulcrum.
(1 mark)
(b) (i) Based on Diagram 1.1, state the class of lever of the wheelbarrow.
______________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(ii) Give one reason for your answer in (b)(i).
____________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(c) Based on Figure 1.2, choose one tool with the same class of lever as the
wheelbarrow in Figure 1.1.
Mark ( ) in the box for the tool.

Fishing rod

Nutcracker

Pliers

Figure 1.2
(1 mark)

(d) Figure 1.3 shows the situation when a force and a load are balanced.

Figure1.3
Calculate force P needed to balance the metre rule.
Use the following formula:
Load x Distance of load from fulcrum = Force x Distance of force from the
fulcrum
(2 marks)

2
Diagram 2.1 shows a pair of pliers. (PMR 2007)

Diagram 2.1

(a) (i) What is the class of lever of the pair of pliers?

_____________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(ii) State one reason for the answer in 2(a) (i).
_____________________________________________________________
(1 mark)

(b) Based on Diagram 2.1, why is it easier to cut the wire when we hold the pliers
at K rather than at L?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(c) Diagram 2.2 shows a worker carrying a load using a wheel barrow.

Diagram 2.2
Draw a lever system for the wheel barrow and label the position of load, force and
fulcrum.
( 2 marks)

(d) Diagram 2.3 shows a system when a force and a load are balanced.

Force 50 N

Load W

Metre rule
20 cm

80 cm
Diagram 2.3
Calculate load W when the system is in equilibrium.
Use the following formula :
Load x Distance of load from the
fulcrum

= Force x Distance of force from the

fulcrum

W = _________________ N
(2 marks)
(e) Diagram 2.4 shows two persons, P and Q, rowing their boats.

Figure 2.4
Why does P use less force than Q to row his boat?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
(1 mark)

(a) Diagram 3.1 shows four devices, P, Q, R and S that use the principle of lever.
(PMR 2008)

Diagram 3.1
State one characteristic that can be observed from any three devices by
referring to the positions of fulcrum, load and force.
Device

Characteristic

(3 marks)

(b) Classify the devices, P, Q, R and S into two groups based on their common
characteristics.
P, Q, R, S

Common
characteristics

Devices

(4 marks)

(c) Diagram 3.2 shows three situations, J, K and L, of a device using principle of
lever.

Diagram 3.2
Based on Diagram 3.2
(i) State one inference about the device.
____________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(ii) Predict the force needed to lift the rock at L.
____________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(iii) State the relationship between the length of the crow-bar and the force
needed to lift the rock.
____________________________________________________________
(1 mark)

SIMPLE MACHINES

ANSWER:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

A
C
D
B
B
C
B

1(a)

fulcrum
(b)

(i) Second class lever

(ii) Load is between fulcrum and effort.

(c)

Nutcracker

(d)

40 x 20 = 100 x P
800 = 100P
8N = P

PMR 2007
2(a) (i) First class lever
(ii) The fulcrum is between the effort and load / The fulcrum is in the middle
(b)
(c)

The longer the distance of the effort from the fulcrum, the less effort is required.
Force / E

L / Load

F / Fulcrum

(d)

W x 100 = 50 x 20
W = 10 N

(e)

Distance of the applied force from the fulcrum is longer. / Distance of the load from
the fulcrum is shorter.

PMR 2008
3(a) Able to state one characteristic of any three devices.
P : Load is between effort and fulcrum.

Q : Effort is between load and fulcrum.

R : Fulcrum is between effort and load.
S : Fulcrum is between effort and load.
(b)
P, Q, R, S

The fulcrum is
between the
load and effort

Pliers
Scissors

Common
characteristics
Devices

The fulcrum is
not between
the load and
effort
Bottle opener
Ice tongs

(c)
(i) The length of the crow bar influences the force needed to lift the rock.
(ii) 100 N
(iii) The longer the length of the crow bar, the less force needed to lift the rock.