Simple Machines Education Resources

A simple machine is an object helps to make work easier.  

There a 6 basic types of simple machines

Lever

Professor Beaker's Lever Lesson

Mini-lesson on levers.  Discusses 1st class, 2nd class, and 3rd class levers.  Illustrations of each of the levers.

Merriam Webster Visual Dictionary of Lever

Visual illustration of a lever.   Each parts of the lever is also defined and labeled.

Dynamic Science-Lever Lesson

See real-world levers.  Illustration of the parts of the lever.  Three classe of levers:first order, second order, third order.

Video Describing  the simple machine-lever

Wheel and Axle

Technology Student Association Wheel and Axle

Lesson on the Wheel and Axle.  History and use of the Wheel and axle. 

Wheel and Axle Video

Pulley

Pulley lesson and experiment

Direction on how to conduct a hands on experiment of a pulley.  Also gives background information on pulleys.

Pulley Video

Video discusses the simple machine pulley.  Topics covered include force, work, Newton, mechanical advantage, fixed pulley, moveable pulley ,and compound pulley. 

Inclined Plane

Interactive Inclined Plane

Interactive inclined planed.  Manipulate the angle of incline,weight,and coefficient of friction.  Interactive activity determines the parallel component,normal force, force of friction, and necessary friction.

Inclined Plane Experiment

Detailed steps of an experiment involving the use of an inclined plane.  

Forces in Two Dimensions-Inclined Plane

Take a look at the inclined plane and the related forces(normal force, force of friction, force of gravity).

Inclined Plane Videos

Video Showing Incline Plane 

Animated Incline Plane Video

Wedge

The wedge is a for of the inclined plane.

Videos of Simple Machine-Wedge

This video discusses the screw, wedge, and inclined plane.

Screw

The Screw is a form of the inclined. It is an inclined plane wound around a cylinder or axis.

Video of Simple Machine-Screw

Simple Machines Tutorials, Lessons, and Worksheets

UCIrvine Simple Machines Lesson

Lesson gives an illustration and lesson on simple machines.  Some advanced topics are discussed.  Formulas at a high school and college level are discussed. 

Simple Machines Scholastic Lesson

Lesson on the Simple machines(Inclined Plane, Wedge, Screw, Lever, Wheel and Axle ,Pulley )

Simple Machines - Franklin Institure Science Museum

Lessson on the simple machines.  Gives a overview of each of the simple machines

Simple Machines Edheads

Interactive video, and questions that have user find simple machines that are use in everyday life.

Simple Machines Worksheet

Identify different simple machines.  Match the simple machine name with its definition