simple machines

Explains how wheels and axles work, presents examples of wheels and axles in the past and in everyday contemporary life, and includes a related activity.

Explains how wedges are used, presents examples of wedges used in the past and in everyday contemporary life, and includes a related activity.

Explains what a screw is; shows how screws were used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome; presents examples of everyday items that screws hold together; and includes a related activity.

Explains how pulleys work, introducing fixed and moveable kinds, presents examples of pulleys used in the past and in everyday contemporary life, and includes a related activity.

Explains how levers work, discussing the load, fulcrum, and effort in first-, second-, and third-class levers; presents examples of levers used in the past and in everyday contemporary life; and includes a related activity.

Explains how inclined planes are used, presenting examples from the past and in everyday contemporary life; discusses the combination of an inclined plane with other simple machines in an escalator; and includes a related activity.

Explores the many aspects of energy, including how it is used, stored, transferred, and conserved. Includes simple projects and experiments.

Uses simple experiments to demonstrate the qualities and functions of such basic machines as the wheel, lever, and fulcrum.