SIMPLE MACHINES
OVERVIEW: You and a partner are going to work together to create a simple machines project with several parts. You will be graded on completeness, neatness, creativity and following directions. This project will serve as the test assessment for simple machines. This project is due by______. Information about simple machines can be found on the internet and in your textbook in Chapter8. It is required that you read Chapter 8 prior to starting this activity.
Content Standard:
S8P3 Students will investigate the relationship between force, mass and the motion of objects.
c. Demonstrate the effect of simple machines (lever, inclined plane, pulley, wedge, screw, and wheel & axle) on work.
S8P2. Students will be familiar with the forms and transformations of energy.
a. Explain energy transformation in terms of the Law of Conservation of Energy.
S8CS5. Students will use the ideas of system, model, change, and scale in exploring scientific and technological matters.
a. Observe and explain how parts can be related to other parts in a system such as the role of simple machines in complex machines.
Part I: Photo Essay
Notice each simple machine category asks for 2 pictures of the item. The first photo should be of the simple machine by itself. The second must be of the simple machine as part of a more complex machine. You may not use pictures from the internet. It must be actual photographs that you have taken. (18 photos total)
- Levers: 6 photos*
- Class 1 lever – 2 photosb. Class 2 lever – 2 photos c. Class 3 lever – 2 photos
* Show on each photograph why it is a class 1, class 2, or class 3 lever by indicating where the effort-fulcrum-load are located on the lever.
- Pulleys: 4 photos
- Fixed pulley – 2 photosb. Moveable pulley – 2 photos
- Inclined Plane: 2 photos
- Wedge – 2 photos
- Wheel & Axle – 2 photos
- Screw – 2 photos
Part II: TYPEDWork (included in the binder)
- Write a brief description of each of the six simple machines.
- Explain how the simple machine makes the work easier.
- Explain what role the simple machine plays in the complex machine.
PART III: Display
- Use a 1” 3-ring binderto display your photos and typewritten work. (one per group)
- You must include:
- A title b. A section for each of the six simple machines c. The correct number of photographs d. Typed explanations with the photographs e. Names of all group members
Chapter 8 Questions; Recommend you do them as part of your preparation for the forces unit quiz.
- Explain why a pair of scissors is a compound machine.
- Explain why work output can never be more than work input.
- If a person holds a rock over his or her head, how much work is being performed on the rock? Explain.
- Pat is removing nails from a piece of wood with the claw end of a hammer. What type of simple machine is he using? Explain.
- What is the main difference between the three classes of levers?
- A wheel has a wheel radius of 20 inches and an axle radius of 4 inches. What is the mechanical advantage of the wheel?
- Even though friction is usually considered a drawback in machines, sometimes it is useful. Give an examples of a simple machine in which friction is useful. Explain your answer.
- Which machine do you think has the greatest mechanical efficiency, a block and tackle pulley system or a lever? Explain your answer.
- Name one compound machine that you have used at school and name the simple machines that make up that compound machine.
- Two people are climbing stairs to reach the 6th floor of a building. One takes a set of steep stairs and the other takes a spiral staircase. Which person is doing more work? Explain.
- Explain the difference between mechanical advantage and mechanical efficiency.
- Is there such a thing as an ideal machine? Explain.
- Ben uses a pair of scissors to cut paper. Describe the input force and output force that takes place.
- Explain how the location of the fulcrum affects the mechanical advantage of a first-class lever.
- A 10N box must be moved onto a closet shelf 2.5 meters above Darrell’s head. How long should an inclined plane be to have a mechanical advantage of 2?
PART IV: Quiz
The day the project is due each individual student will be required to take a short quiz on Chapter 8. This is a separate quiz grade and is not included with the project grade, which is a test grade.
GRADING RUBRIC
Description / Point Value / Points EarnedFor each photo of the simple machine by itself (9 simple machines) / 1 pt (9 pts total)
For each photo of the simple machine as part of a complex machine (simple machines) / 1 pt (9 pts total)
For each explanation of the role the simple machine played in the complex machine (9 simple machines) / 1 pt (9 pts total)
For each effort-fulcrum-load label on the photo of
each class of lever (2 photos of each of the 3 types of levers) / 1 pt (6 pts total)
For each description of each type of simple machine (6 types) / 4 pts (24 points total)
For each explanation of how each type of simple machine made work easier (6 types). / 4 pt (24 points total)
Effort evident, neat, poster typed, well organized, thorough, name, following instructions / 20 points
Project Grade (out of 100 – test grade)
Quiz (out of 100 – quiz grade)
NAME: ______
GRADING RUBRIC
Description / Point Value / Points EarnedFor each photo of the simple machine by itself (9 simple machines) / 1 pt (9 pts total)
For each photo of the simple machine as part of a complex machine (simple machines) / 1 pt (9 pts total)
For each explanation of the role the simple machine played in the complex machine (9 simple machines) / 1 pt (9 pts total)
For each effort-fulcrum-load label on the photo of
each class of lever (2 photos of each of the 3 types of levers) / 1 pt (6 pts total)
For each description of each type of simple machine (6 types) / 4 pts (24 points total)
For each explanation of how each type of simple machine made work easier (6 types). / 4 pt (24 points total)
Effort evident, neat, poster typed, well organized, thorough, name, following instructions / 20 points
Project Grade (out of 100 – test grade)
Quiz (out of 100 – quiz grade)