How to Make Simple Machines With Energy Transfers

Simple machines are comprised of the lever, pulley, wedge, screw, inclined plane and wheel. Most machines are made up of a combination of these. Machines transfer energy from the force being used to make it work to the machine and from the machine to whatever the machine is supposed to be doing. An example would be a pulley lifting an object. The energy is transferred from the operator pulling the rope to the the pulley. And then from the pulley to the object that is lifted.

Things You'll Need

• Pulley or wheel with a grove that a rope could sit in
• Rope
• Object to be lifted
• Bracket to attach pulley to fixed location
• screws
• or
• Small block of wood
• Large piece of wood needing to be split
• Heavy hammer or mallet
• Ax

Instructions

1. Take the pulley or wheel and attach a bracket to the center on either side. The bracket should be long enough to clear the wheel so that it can spin freely.

2. Attach the pulley to a fixed point above and thread the rope on top of the pulley making sure that it is long enough to hang to the floor on both sides.

3. Tie the rope around the object to be lifted, making sure that it is secure.

4. Take the loose end of rope in your hands and pull down. The energy is transferred from you to the object being lifted.

1. Get a block of wood and carve it down until one side is pointed. This would be a wedge.

2. Get a large piece of wood that needs to be split in order to used in a fire.

3. Use an ax to create a small split in the wood and then place the wedge in the split.

4. Hammer down on the wedge with a heavy hammer. The wedge will slowly be force further down into the wood and push it apart. The energy is being transferred from the person swinging the hammer to the wedge. And from the wedge to the wood being split.