Simple Machines

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The 6 Simple Machines

There are six different types of simple machines, and all of them are important because they each do different things. For example, levers provide leverage, and screws can amplify force. However, with all their differences, each simple machine is made for the same reason, to be the building blocks of machines. This is critical for our world since machines are made to make things easier. The world would be less efficient is we didn’t have machines, and without simple machines, we wouldn’t have them. That is why simple machines are important.

The first simple machine is a lever. A lever is a beam or rod hinging on a fulcrum. Most levers look like a line with one part connected to a triangle. As aforementioned, levers provide leverage, which in other words means boosting an input force to get a bigger output force. It consists of three things: a fulcrum (a fixed hinge), the resistance force (the output force), and the effort force (the input force). There are three different types of levers: Class 1 Levers, Class 2 Levers, and Class 3 Levers. The first one has the fulcrum in the middle, the second one has the resistance in the middle, and the third has the effort force in the middle. An interesting fact about levers is they were even used in ancient Egypt to move obelisks, which shows how helpful they have been through the ages. Below is a picture of a lever:

The second simple machine is a wheel and axle. The wheel and axle usually consists of a wheel, which is a round disk that rotates, and an axle, a shaft of which the wheel rotates around. It is used to lift weights, and is actually just a lever with the load applied to the perimeter of the wheel and axle, which are carefully balanced on the fulcrum. W...

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... is a thin, twisted inclined plane that uses rotational motions to amplify force. For instance, a nail is a perfect example of a screw. Most common screws are circled in many ridges, also called threads. These will look like a metal cylinder with wire wrapped around it with a bit of space between each coil. Although screws are important, they are sometimes not very efficient. Most of the energy from the screw turning is lost in sliding friction energy between the object and the screw. Even if the screw is very well made and lubricated, it might only have from 10-20 percent of actual efficiency. Some more examples of screws are threaded lids, drills, or corkscrews. The history of the screw dates back to the times of ancient Greek. Apparently, Archimedes created the screw press, which has never been found but has been drawn and painted. Below is a picture of a screw.

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