Six Simple Machines and What They Do

0:00How do simple machines make hard jobs easier?

0:04A simple machine takes the force you put in and changes its size or its direction.

0:10Here are six classic simple machines: the lever, inclined plane, wedge, wheel and axle, pulley and screw.

0:20A lever is a bar that turns on a point called the fulcrum.

0:24A small push down on the long end makes a bigger force that lifts the load.

0:29An inclined plane is a ramp: you need less force than lifting straight up, but the path is longer.

0:37A wedge turns one push down into two strong pushes out to the sides.

0:43A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to a thin rod, so they turn together.

0:49A small pull on the edge of the wheel makes a bigger pull at the axle.

0:54A single pulley changes the direction: you pull down, and the load goes up.

1:01A screw is a ramp wrapped around a rod.

1:05An easy turn drives it into the wood with a big force.

1:10Each simple machine changes the size or the direction of a force.