How to Make Simple Machines with Students

Simple machines are tools with few or no moving parts. Despite their simplicity, they make work easier. Two of the six types of simple machines, the lever and the inclined plane, make good projects for students learning about simple machines and physics.

Things You'll Need

• Tape
• 2 paper or plastic cups
• 12-inch rulers, 2
• Pencil
• Small weight
• Pennies
• 5 books
• Small bag
• 1 cup uncooked rice
• Rubber band

Instructions

Lever

1. Tape the bottom of one cup to the end of your ruler, and the bottom of the other cup to the other end of the ruler.

2. Tape the pencil to a desk or other flat surface. This will be the lever's fulcrum. Position the ruler over the pencil, centering it by lining the pencil up to the 6-inch mark. The ruler should be perpendicular to the pencil.

3. Place the weight into one of the cups. This will cause the cup to be the heavier end of your lever.

4. Begin adding pennies to the empty cup. Continue adding them until the side with the weight lifts off the table. Repeat this process with the ruler positioned differently over the fulcrum. Observe how this changes the number of pennies needed to lift the weight.

Inclined Plane

1. Stack four of your books on top of each other. Lean the fifth against them at an angle. This forms an inclined plane.

2. Fill your small bag with the one cup of rice. Cut the rubber band, and use it to tie the bag shut. Make sure to leave most of the rubber band free.

3. Place the bag on the floor or tabletop next to the stacked books. Holding it by the end of the rubber band, lift it until it's level with the top of the books without touching it to anything. Measure the length of the stretched rubber band with your ruler.

4. Move the bag to the base of the inclined plane book. Holding it by the end of the rubber band, slowly drag it up the inclined plane. When you reach the top, measure the length of the rubber band, noting that when using an inclined plane, it's shorter due to less pressure on the rubber band.

Tips & Warnings

• Students can make both of these, either in groups or individually, with an adjustment in materials to accommodate the number of students.

References

• Uh.edu: Simple Machines Learning Site
• Museum of Science & Industry: Build a Lever
• Nasa.gov: Inclined Plane