Scienceville
Types of Machines
Machines help us do hard jobs easily. Some are big. Some are so simple that you use them every day!
Did you know?
A see-saw is a simple machine called a lever. It helps you lift a friend easily!
A slide is a ramp. Ramps help us move things up and down more easily.
A pulley on a well lifts heavy buckets of water. It uses a wheel and a rope.
Try this: Ramp Race
Lean a big book on a pile of books to make a ramp. Roll a toy car down it. Now add more books to make the ramp steeper. Roll the car again. Does it go faster or slower? How far does it go?
Go further: Machines Inside Machines
A bicycle is made of many simple machines working together. The wheels turn on a rod called an axle. The pedals push like levers. The brake handles are levers too! A pair of scissors is two levers with sharp edges. Look around your home. How many simple machines can you find?