Lever
What is the fixed pivot point around which a lever turns called?
The fulcrum.
What simple machine consists of a flat, slanted surface that lifts a load by increasing the distance it travels?
An inclined plane.
A wheel and axle consists of a larger circular object attached to a smaller central shaft. What is the name of this smaller shaft?
The axle.
When you compare a screw to a standard nail, which machine requires you to apply force over a longer distance to drive it into a wall?
The screw.
Elevators use heavy cables wrapped around motorized wheels to go up and down. What simple machine does this?
A pulley.
A seesaw is an example of which class of lever, where the fulcrum is placed right in the middle?
The First-class lever.
Name two common tools used for construction or safety that specifically function as wedges.
Axe, doorstop, etc.
When you use a screwdriver, which part acts as the wheel and which part acts as the axle?
The handle is the wheel, the metal tip is the axle.
What is the term for the continuous ridges or grooves that wrap around the shaft of a screw?
Threads.
A pulley consists of a rope, chain, or cable that fits into what part of a wheel?
The groove.
When you push down on a crowbar, your push is called the input force. What is the term for the force the crowbar exerts to lift the heavy object?
Output force.
If a ramp is 6 meters long and elevates an object up a total vertical distance of 2 meters, what is the Mechanical Advantage of the ramp?
3. (length/height 6/2)
If a water well crank has a large turning handle with a radius of 30 cm and an inner axle rope spool with a radius of 10 cm, what is the ideal mechanical advantage?
3. (30/10)
What term is used to describe the vertical distance between two threads on a screw?
The pitch.
What is the name of a pulley that is anchored to a ceiling or beam and does not move up or down when the rope is pulled?
A fixed pulley.
A bottle opener places the cap in the middle, with the pivot point at the tip and your hand lifting the handle. What class of lever is this?
Second-class lever.
If you increase the length of a ramp while keeping the height of the platform exactly the same, what happens to the amount of input force required to push a heavy box up?
The input force decreases (it gets easier to push).
If a truck has tires with a radius of 100 cm and an axle with a radius of 10 cm, what is the mechanical advantage of the wheels?
0.1 or 1/10.
A spiral staircase in a building allows people to walk up to the next floor using less effort than a vertical ladder. What simple machine is a spiral staircase?
A screw.
If a crane uses a pulley system with 4 rope segments to lift a heavy steel beam, what is the mechanical advantage?
4.
Your elbow acts as the fulcrum, the biceps muscle applies the effort to the forearm, and the hand holds the load.
Third-class lever.
A wedge is a movable simple machine used to split or stop objects. It is actually formed by placing two of which other simple machine back-to-back?
Inclined planes.
In a standard wheel and axle system, which part always has the larger diameter or radius?
The wheel.
If a scientist calculates that a mechanical screw has a high efficiency rating, what force did they minimize between the metal threads and the wood?
Friction.
If they have to pull 20 meters of rope just to lift the engine up 2 meters, what is the mechanical advantage?
10.