Science Grade 8

SIMPLE MACHINES
Learning Objectives
• Understand what a simple machine is and
how would it help to make work easier
• Identify six types of simple machines
• Understand the moment of force in lever
and calculate the moment of force to solve
the problem related to the topic
• Describe inclined planes and calculate the
mechanical advantages of inclined planes
• Identify three types of pulley and calculate
its mechanical advantage
What is simple machine?
• We all do work in our daily lives
• Human’s goal : doing work in an easier way
• To achieve that goal  using simple machine
Simple machine is…
• A device or tool that
make human’s work
easier
• It changes the size of
forces, allowing people
to do work with less
muscle effort and
greater speed
The 6 Simple Machines
Inclined Plane Screw Wedge

Lever Pulley Wheel and Axle

 INCLINED PLANE
• An inclined plane is a flat surface
that is higher on one end
• It is used to make it easier to move a
weight from a lower to a higher spot

• Example : stairs, escalators, ramp,

ship’s plank
Which of these inclined plane can be used
to move the cart easier?
Which of these inclined plane can be used
to move the cart easier?
Inclined Plane -
Mechanical Advantage

MA =
MECHANICAL ADVANTAGES?
LEVER
A lever is a stiff bar or rod that rests on a support called a fulcrum

A lever is used to push, pull, or lift things

There are 3 types or classes of lever
 First Class Lever

Fulcrum is between E (effort) and R (load/resistance force)

MA =
Second Class Lever

R (load) is between fulcrum and E (effort)

MA =
Second Class Lever
 Examples of
second-class
levers include
nut crackers,
wheel barrows,
door handle,
and bottle
openers.
Third Class Lever

E (effort) is between fulcrum and R (load)

MA =
Third Class Lever
 Examples of
third-class
levers include
tweezers, arm,
hammers, and
shovels.
WHEEL AND AXLE
• It consists of a large
wheel rigidly attached
to a small wheel (the
axle)
• When one part turns
the other also does
• Fan blades are
attached to the
wheel. When the axle
turns, the fan blades
spin.
• The mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle is the ratio of
the radius of the wheel to the radius of the axle

5
1

• The radius of the wheel is five times larger than the radius of
the axle. Therefore, the mechanical advantage is 5:1 or 5

Bicycle wheels Roller skates

Door knob
SCREW
A screw is an incline planed wrapped around a
cylinder or cone