Simple Machines Descriptions Graphic

PULLEY A pulley is a machine that

makes it easier to lift a
load.To lift a load you tie or
hook the load on one side
then pull on the other side of

F
O
the rope. Just like a fancy

R
scale.

C
E
D
A
O
L
LEVER A lever is a machine that you
can use to lift up a load. To
F
lift the load you put a load on
one side of the steel rod then
o L
on the other side push down
on your side kind of like a
teeter totter.
r o
c a
e
d
INCLINED PLANE An inclined plane is a board
F
M
placed at an angle to help get L
a load down from a higher o
place or up from a lower o
r
place. In order for the inclined
plane to work you can either c
a
d ov
put the load on the ramp and e
have the chains take it up or
if you don’t have the
er
electronic version you can put
your load on a dolley and
wheel it up or down by
s
yourself.
WEDGE A wedge is a smaller version
F

e
g
d
e
w
of the inclined plane.
Although a wedge has a o

d
ad
oa
lo
l
different job. A wedge helps r
split things into two. To
function a wedge you put the c
point pointed to the thing that e
you want to split in half then
use a hammer to hammer the
wedge into the object.

SCREW A screw is a small object that

you can use to fasten things Force
together. A screw has a
sharp point on one end (that
goes into the load) and a flat
end (the end with grooves
that you can help to fasten load
the screw into the load.

WHEEL AND AXLE A wheel and axle is a simple

machine that lifts a load. To
operate a wheel and axle you
put the load on one side of a
rope then you twist a lever or
a wheel that wraps the rope FO
around the pole. RC
E
LOA
D