AMITY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, NOIDA

CLASS 5 (2020-21)

CHAPTER-8 SIMPLE MACHINES

QUESTION BANK WITH ANSWER KEY

I. DEFINE:

1) SIMPLE MACHINES

a) Simple machines are tools that make our work easier, save our energy and effort, help us to
do maximum work in less time.
b) Simple machines make our work easier and faster by:
i) increasing the distance over which the force is applied, and
ii) changing the direction of the applied force.
c) There are seven types of simple machines: lever, pulley, wheel and axle, inclined plane,
wedge, screw and gears.
d) Lever, wedge and inclined plane are the oldest known machines.
e) Eg: scissors, stapler, ramp etc

2) PRINCIPLE OF SIMPLE MACHINES

When a smaller effort is used to lift a larger load, then the effort has to move a greater distance
than the load.

3) LEVER

Define Lever.
 A lever is a simple machine that consists of a rod or a bar that can move around a fixed
point called a fulcrum or a pivot.
 The applied force is called the effort and the object to be moved is called load.
 It helps to push, pull or lift heavy objects with ease by reducing the effort.
 Eg: wheel and axle, wheelbarrow, hammer claw, human jaw etc.

Principle (function-HOW DOES IT MAKE OUR WORK EASIER?):

 It helps to push, pull or lift heavy objects with ease by reducing the effort.
 When a smaller effort is needed to move a heavy load, then the effort has to move a greater
distance than the load.

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4) INCLINED PLANE

Define Inclined Plane.

 An inclined plane is a simple machine in the form of a gentle slope that helps us to move heavy
loads with less effort.
 It is much easier to push or roll things up a slanting surface rather than lifting them vertically
upwards.
 An inclined plane provides this mechanical advantage by increasing the distance.
 Eg: ramp, ladder, slide, winding road of a mountain etc.

Principle (function-HOW DOES IT MAKE OUR WORK EASIER?):

 It makes work easier by increasing the distance and reducing the effort.

5) PULLEY

Define Pulley
 A pulley is a simple machine that consists of a rope, chain or belt around a grooved wheel or
series of grooved wheels.
 There are two types of pulleys: fixed pulleys and movable pulleys.
 It reduces the effort needed to lift an object, by changing the direction of the force applied.
 Pulling downwards is easier than pulling upwards, as gravity acts as an advantage.
 Eg: cranes, lifts and elevators, etc.

Principle (function-HOW DOES IT MAKE OUR WORK EASIER?):

 It reduces the effort needed to lift an object, by changing the direction of the force applied.
 The effort is applied in the downward direction while the load moves upwards.
 Pulling downwards is easier than pulling upwards, as gravity acts as an advantage.

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6) WHEEL AND AXLE

Define Wheel & Axle

 A wheel-and-axle usually consists of two wheels attached to the ends of a rod (axle).
 A wheel itself is not a machine.
 Together the wheel and axle make a simple machine.
 Turning the wheel with a smaller force turns the axle with a greater force.
 Eg: doorknob, screwdriver, etc.

Principle (function-HOW DOES IT MAKE OUR WORK EASIER?):

 It is a kind of a continuous lever that rotates in a circle around the fulcrum.

 Larger wheel rotates around the smaller wheel (axle).
 Turning the wheel with a smaller force turns the axle with a greater force.
 They also help to cover greater distances.

7) WEDGE

Define Wedge
 A wedge is a simple machine made up of two inclined planes that meet and form a sharp edge.
 This edge can slice, cut, or break things apart with less effort.
 Wedge work on the principle that a smaller force acting along a slope can produce a larger force.
 Eg: knife, axe, saw, blade, chisel etc.

Principle (function-HOW DOES IT MAKE OUR WORK EASIER?):

 Wedge work on the principle that a smaller force acting along a slope can produce a larger force.
 It makes our work easier as sharp edges can slice, cut or break things apart with less effort.

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 8) SCREW

Define Screw
 A screw is a nail with grooves cut on it.
 It has a winding edge called thread.
 This thread is actually an inclined plane wrapped around a nail.
 The threads of a screw help to hold the surface more firmly than a nail.
 It makes work easier by increasing the distance and reducing the effort.
 Eg: screw jack, vise jaw, swivel chair etc.

To insert into a surface, it has to be screwed in by turning around with a screw driver. It holds the
surface more firmly than a nail. Also, less force is required to insert a screw than a nail.

Principle (function-HOW DOES IT MAKE OUR WORK EASIER?):

 It makes work easier by increasing the distance and reducing the effort.
 The threads of a screw help to hold the surface more firmly than a nail.

9) GEARS

Define Gears
 Gears are toothed wheels meshed together to transfer motion or power from one part of the
machine to the other.
 Their different combinations can help in both increasing/decreasing the speed; and
increasing/decreasing the applied force.
 Eg: bicycle chain, fan, clock, cars, etc.

Principle (function-HOW DOES IT MAKE OUR WORK EASIER?):

 The teeth of larger gear and smaller gear fit such that, the larger gear makes the smaller gear
move faster in the opposite direction.

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II. GIVE REASONS:

1) Simple machines make our work easier.

Simple machines make our work easier by:

a) changing the direction of the force applied, and

b) increasing the distance over which the force is applied.

2) It is easier to pull a bucket of water from a well by using a pulley than without it.

a) A pulley reduces the effort needed to lift an object, by changing the direction of the force applied.
b) In this case, the pulley will change the direction of applied force from upwards to downwards.
c) Pulling downwards is easier than pulling upwards, as we can use gravity to our advantage.
d) So, it becomes easier to pull a bucket of water from a well by using a pulley than without it.

3) A screw is better than a nail.

A screw is better than a nail as:

a) Its threads help to hold the surface more firmly than a nail,
b) less force is required to insert a screw than a nail.

4) A heavy rock can be lifted easily by a crowbar/lever.

a) A crowbar is a lever in which the fulcrum is located somewhere between the load and the effort,
closer to the load.
b) When a smaller effort is needed to move a heavy load, then the effort has to move a greater distance
than the load.

So, a heavy rock can be lifted easily by a crowbar.

5) It is easier to climb a hilly path by sloping and winding roads.

a) Sloping and winding road is an inclined plane.

b) It is much easier to push or roll things up a slanting surface rather than lifting them vertically
upwards. An inclined plane provides this mechanical advantage by increasing the distance.
c) So, it is easier to climb a hilly path by sloping and winding roads.

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III. DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN:

S.N SIMPLE MACHINES COMPLEX MACHINES

o

1 These are tools that make our work easier. These are combination of various simple
machines.

2 These generally operate on mechanical These generally operate on electricity or battery

energy. power.

3 These make our everyday life simple. These help in industries etc.

4 Eg: lever, screw etc Eg: crane, sewing machine

S.No
INCLINED PLANE WEDGE
.

A wedge is made up of two inclined planes

An inclined plane is a gentle slope that helps that meet and form a sharp edge that help us
1 to slice, cut, or break things apart with less
us to move heavy loads with less effort.
effort.

Principle: increasing the distance reduces the Principle: a small force acting along a slope can
2 effort. produce a larger force.

3 Eg: Eg:

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IV. WHICH SIMPLE MACHINE WILL YOU USE TO:

a) Carry a patient on wheelchair to the first floor. ________________

b) To lift a heavy rock_______________________

c) To draw water from a well________________________

d) To lift a car for changing a punctured tyre ________________________________

e) To go up a steep hill_________________________________

f) To join two blocks of wood _____________________

V. a) WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT AN EXAMPLE OF A LEVER:

scissors seesaw a crane crowbar

V. b) WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT AN INCLINED PLANE:

a hill-slide a ladder blade of an axe a nutcracker a screw

V. c) WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS AN INCLINED PLANE:

slides ramp staircase all of these

VI. GIVE ONE WORD FOR THE FOLLOWING:

a) The point of support in a lever

b) An inclined plane wrapped round a rod

c) Grooved wheel with a rope passing through it.

d) A pair of wheels connected by a rod

e) Toothed wheels that usually work in pairs

VII. GIVE TWO EXAMPLES OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:

a) lever b) Inclined plane c) Wheel and axle d)Pulley

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VIII. STATE TRUE OR FALSE AGAINST THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:

a) A knife is a simple machine.

b) Seesaw is kind of a lever.

c) The point of support in a lever is called the fulcrum.

d) An inclined plane makes work difficult as the distance is increased.

e) A wheel is not a machine by itself. It needs an axle to work as a simple machine

IX. Clumsy Bunny is wondering if he could get simple machines to make the following jobs easier. “Can
you suggest which machines he should use?”

a. To reach his friend’s house:

b. To take out water from the well:

c. To chop fruits:

d. To crack a walnut:

e. To cut a piece of cloth:

f. To open screws:

g. To cut a wire:

h. To cut nails:

i. To lift a car:

j. To roast chapattis:

X. FILL IN THE BLANKS:

a) A device that makes our work easier by applying less effort is called a _________________.

b) A __________is a wheel with a groove, which helps us to raise heavy objects by pulling a rope.

c) A slope is also called an _____________.

d) Stairs and ladders inclined planes cut into _______.

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e) When a gear turns, the other gear wheel turn in the _______direction.

f) An eggbeater has a combination of ____________ and __________.

g) The downward force applied on a crowbar is called the ___________

h) The point of support on a lever is called its _____________.

i) The _________ helps us to carry hot things safely.

j) By using a small effort, a large load can be lifted using a _________.

k) A ___________ is easier to climb than stairs.

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