Car mechanics: simple mechanisms in cars

Simple machines are individual mechanical devices that help improve people's daily lives by allowing them to work faster, easier, and more efficiently. Simple machines are considered to be the basic mechanisms that make up all complex machines. Six basic types of simple machines: pulley, screw, inclined plane, wheel and axle, edge and lever. When people are doing work, such as using force to move heavy objects, simple machines make these common tasks easier. When several simple machines work together, they create a composite machine. An example of this would be a pulley system consisting of two or more pulleys. When a machine is made up of many simple and compound machines, they make a complex machine. An excellent example of a complex machine is a car. Cars contain many separate simple mechanisms - the steering wheel consists of a wheel and an axle, and gear shifting in cars with an automatic transmission is controlled by levers.

Pulley

• Simple Machines: The Pulley is a very simple overview of the pulley, complete with hand-drawn drawings to show examples.
• Pulleys: Physical Science - An interactive classroom lesson plan that requires two brooms and one meter of rope, demonstrates how a pulley works.
• What is a pulley? What is this video from MocomiKids that gives a great overview of how the pulley makes common tasks easier.
• Simple mechanisms and pulley. A student from Boston University put together this wonderful guide to all the simple machines. The page has what, why, and fun pulley facts.
• Powerful Pulleys Lesson Template - Designed for 3rd and 4th graders, this lesson plan takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. (Resources are required to demonstrate this tutorial.)

Wheels and axles

• Dirtmeister Science Reporters: Wheel and Axle - Scholastic Inc. gives a great overview of what a wheel and axle are and how we use them in everyday life.
• Examples of wheels and axles - MiKids provides many pictures of wheels and axles in everyday objects, as well as a quick test to see if kids fully understand what a simple machine is.
• Simple Machine Manual (PDF) - This manual by Terry Wakild offers the challenge of building and testing a machine with a wheel and an axle. Aimed at 5th graders, it also has a fantastic vocabulary.
• Introduction of "Simples" to "Simple Machines" (PDF) is a guide designed for 2nd and 3rd graders that offers learning activities to show students how pulleys, wheels and axles work together.
• Simply amazing - The Yale Institute of Teachers in New Haven put together this curriculum for sixth graders to identify and demonstrate simple machines, including a wheel and an axle.

Lever arm

• Levers in Games: Pinball Master - Build your own simple lever mechanism with this fun and interactive pinball lesson plan! Parents and kids will love making this simple car.
• Classroom Activities: Lever Lift - Nova teachers lead this class activity to teach kids about levers. To assemble a lever from a brick and a skewer, materials will be required.
• The Pop Fly Challenge (PDF) is a more advanced lesson plan designed to show that leverage is everywhere.
• First Grade Leverage - MnSTEP Learning Activities contains this lesson plan aimed at 4th and 5th grade students. Learn about leverage with this hands-on course review.
• Elementary Research: Leverage (PDF) - This simple experiment is designed to show elementary school children how levers work. Materials needed include two pencils, three coins, tape, and a ruler.

Inclined plane

• Ramp or inclined plane. Did you know that a ramp is an inclined plane? Work with a classmate to list as many inclined planes as possible.
• The Ramp - download this interactive software and follow the instructions to test the effectiveness of the ramp with household items.
• Inclined Plane (PDF) - Using rice, a rubber band, a ruler, masking tape, three books, a yardstick, a sock, and string, this teacher's guide teaches students how an inclined plane moves materials.
• Acceleration Lab Teacher's Guide is a more advanced lesson plan that introduces students to inclined planes and the relationship between plane angle and acceleration.
• Simple Correspondence Worksheet (PDF) - This lesson plan covers all simple mechanisms and makes students learn which simple mechanisms are used in daily life by providing images.

Screws

• Machines in Motion (PDF) - Use this how-to guide to describe the purpose of screws. The Lesson Plan on Leonardo da Vinci's discoveries offers students several ways to experiment with screws.
• Second Grade Work and Simple Machinery Section - This five-day lesson plan for second graders offers activities to teach students how to work with simple machines, including scavenging.
• Simple Looms for 4th Grade (PDF) - Teach 4th grade students about screws in a screw station with materials to experiment and test.
• Screw - answers to questions about what it is, why we use it, and fun facts - this is an amazing overview of the screw for all ages!
• What is a screw? - Watch this short video for an overview of the propeller and its impact on other machines.

Composite machines

• Simple machines and compound machines. Follow this web quest to learn how a few simple machines create a composite machine. Contains links to additional resources.
• School Toolbox: Simple Machines Vs. Composite Machines - Find out what is the difference between both machines and how they are both used in everyday life.
• About Composite Machines - This lesson plan reinforces how simple machines make composite machines by breaking down everyday items and pointing out all the simple machines inside.
• What is a compound machine? — Study.com provides an excellent overview of compound machines with videos, quizzes, and additional learning materials.
• Compound Machines - This website, designed for 8th grade students, teaches them to understand the benefits of compound machines and how simple machines provide a working foundation.

Wedge

• Wedge and Simple Mechanisms - Boston University provides information on what a wedge is, why we use it, and other fun facts!
• Slope or wedge. This overview contains more technical information about the wedge (including mathematical information about the required force) and is recommended for older students.
• Simple Machines: Wedge - EdHelper provides readable information (recommended for grades 3-5) about the wedge. (Note: You must subscribe to the full lesson plan, but this is a great website for all educators.)
• Kitchen Gadgets Galore - In this lesson plan, common kitchen gadgets are presented as simple mechanisms, including a wedge. Great for illustrating how simple machines are in everyday subjects.
• Inclined plane - (another common name for a wedge). This concise definition of what a wedge is and how it affects daily life is sure to help learners of all ages.

Other resources

• Simple mechanisms in cars and tractors - download this video presentation to find out how many simple mechanisms are in these ordinary cars.
• Work and Simple Machines - Exercises for Teachers - Broken down into an introduction, core concepts, applications, and advanced activities, this is a great learning tool with lots of resources.
• Be creative. This hands-on activity gives students the opportunity to design and build simple machines that solve the problems given in the instructions.
• Movement along with simple machines. Target level 2-3. This is an exciting four week project that takes a detailed look at all six simple machines.
• Simple machines used in history. This interactive lesson plan is for students in grades 3-6. For about an hour, students use images from the Library of Congress to observe and identify simple mechanisms and have group discussions with their classmates.
• Facts about simple machines. This easy-to-read overview gives a brief history of how the need for simple machines came about and provides practical examples of all six simple machines!