i A pivot is the point around which an object turns, such as a door or a crowbar.
ii A lever is used to apply a force to make something turn around a pivot.
iii The turning effect of a force depends on the size of the force and the distance along the lever (qualitative).
Scientific enquiry
iv Understand how a long lever can improve precision of measurements. (Framework YTO Sc1 9d)
Suggested alternative starter activities (5–10 minutes)
Recap last lesson / Share learning objectives / Problem solving / Word game / Capture interest
Look at an aneroid barometer. Link operation of pointer into this lesson.
Catalyst Interactive Presentations 3 / · Identify pivots, levers and turning effects.
· Recognise how longer pointers can improve measurement. (Sc1) / Consider what tools would be best to undo a rusty bolt. / Revise forces with a loop game. / Consider an animation of how engineers constructed the Stonehenge trilithons. How did they get such big stones upright?
Catalyst Interactive Presentations 3
Suggested alternative main activities
Activity / Learning objectives see above / Description / Approx.
timing / Target group
C / H / E / S
Textbook L4 / i, ii and iii / Teacher-led explanation and questioning OR Pupils work individually, in pairs or in small groups through the in-text questions and then onto the end-of-spread questions if time allows. / 20 min / R/G / G / R / S
Activity L4a Practical / i, ii and iii / Pivots and levers Pupils look at six examples of pivots and levers and think about the length of the lever and the distance it moves. / 25 min / ü
Activity L4b Paper / iii and iv / Pointer precision Pupils make a card meter which can be fitted with a long or short pointer, to see how this affects precision. / 15 min / ü / (ü)
Activity L4c
Catalyst Interactive Presentations 3 / iii and iv / Support animation of a large and small pointer measuring something. / 5–10 min / ü
Suggested alternative plenary activities (5–10 minutes)
Review learning / Sharing responses / Group feedback / Word game / Looking ahead
Show video clips of opening bridges and other large visual modern structures, e.g. canal lock gates. Pupils identify pivot and lever.
Catalyst Interactive Presentations 3 / Pupils look at pictures and identify pivots and levers. / Pupils discuss what they discovered in a circus of experiments from Activity L4a. / Pupils answer questions from cards in pairs. / Pupils consider whether we can measure how good a lever is.
Learning outcomes
Most pupils will … / Some pupils, making less progress will … / Some pupils, making more progress will …
· explain the action of levers, including examples in the human skeleton
· identify pivots and levers in everyday life know that the further from the pivot a force acts the less force is needed to move the lever. / · identify pivots and levers in everyday life
· recognise that the turning effect of a force can be increased by increasing the length of the lever arm and give a use of this. / · describe how the wheelbarrow acts as a simple machine
· be able to calculate moments.
Key words / Out-of-lesson learning
pivot, lever, red only: turning effect / Homework L4
Textbook L4 end-of-spread questions
Make list of devices in the home that use levers
© Harcourt Education Ltd 2004 Catalyst 3
This worksheet may have been altered from the original on the CD-ROM.