SIMPLE MACHINES SCAVENGER HUNT

Today we will learn about the simple machines and how simple machines were used on the USS Intrepid.

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Before we start, let’s reflect on these questions:

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• What are simple machines?
• How do they help us in our daily lives?
• What are some examples of simple machines?

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What is a simple machine?

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Simple machines are basic mechanical devices used to apply force, making work easier for humans. Typically simple machines have have only a very few parts and have few or no moving parts.

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Complicated machines are made up of two or more simple machines.

Let’s learn about some simple machines.

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The Wedge

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• A wedge is a simple machine that helps to separate two objects from each other.
• The front of a ship can act as a wedge. As it moves, it slices through the water.

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The Lever

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• A lever is a simple machine consisting of a rigid bar that moves around a fixed point. One end of it can be pushed or pulled to control the other end which can move a heavy object.
• A balancing scale is an example of a lever.

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The Pulley

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• A pulley is a simple machine that is made up of a wheel with a grooved rim through which a cord passes through. It is used to change the direction of a force.
• Sail boats use pulleys to help lift, lower and tighten it sails.

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The Screw

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• A screw is a thin rod-shaped simple machine that has a spiral groove that is designed to pierce a materials by rotating it, often using a screwdriver to do so. It can also hold two pieces of material together.
• A nut and a bolt is an example of a screw because the bolt can be used to go through two different pieces of material and the nut holds them in place.

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The Inclined Plane

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• An inclined plane is a simple machine in which a surface is sloped so that one end is higher than the other. It runs at an angle to a horizontal surface.
• Ramps and stairs are both considered inclined planes.

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The Wheel and Axle

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• A wheel and axle is a simple machine in which a wheel rotates on a stationary rod or axle.
• The wheels on a bicycle or a ferris wheel are examples of a wheel and axle.

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REFLECTION

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• How have simple machines assisted in the way that Intrepid safely moored (parked) in a seaport?
• What other simple machines were used around Intrepid? Use Google Arts and Culture to explore other areas of the ship. How did they make life easier for the men who served on Intrepid?
• What simple machines are around your home or classroom? How do they make your life easier?

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum

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More Information on Simple Machines

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