#1

How much work

does the girl in
this image do to
lift the box up
onto the shelf?
#2
A cat uses 38 N
of force to climb
4 m up into a
tree. How much
work does it do?
#3
A girl uses 10 N of
force to carry a
bag of apples 3
m from the
kitchen counter
to the table. How
much work does
she do?
#4
How much work
must the man
shown here do
to get the couch
up the ramp?
SIM
MA P
CH L E
INE
S
 A simple machine
works by using 1 movement,
makes work easier, and
requires less force.
 Let's Explore the 6 Simple Machines
WHEEL & AXLE INCLINED PLANE WEDGE

SCREW LEVER PULLEY

INCLINED
PLANE
An inclined plane
is a flat sloped
surface.
EXAMPLES OF AN INCLINED PLANE
An inclined plane can be used to lower or raise objects and people.

roof accessible ramp truck ramp

SCREW
A screw is a
special kind of
inclined plane,
wrapped around
a pole or cylinder.
 EXAMPLES OF A SCREW
A screw can be used to lift things or hold them together.

light bulb door stopper bottle caps

WEDGE
A wedge is a
double inclined
plane that can
move.
 EXAMPLES OF A WEDGE
A wedge can be used to push two things apart, lift up an object,
or hold an object in place.

knife door stopper axe

LEVER
A lever pivots
around a fixed
position.
 EXAMPLES OF A LEVER
A lever can be used to lift or move things.

see saw wheelbarrow balance scale

WHEEL
& AXLE
It is a shaft
attached to a
wheel of large
diameter.
 EXAMPLES OF A WHEEL & AXLE
A wheel and axle can be used to move, or lift objects and people.

pizza cutter bicycle ferris wheel

PULLEY
A pulley is made
with a wheel
and a rope or
cable.
 EXAMPLES OF A PULLEY
A pulley can be used to lift objects.

crane exercise machine fishing rod

 what other
simple machines
can you think of?
CO
MA M P
CH L E X
INE
S
 A complex machine
two or more simple machines
working together