Simple Machines
Force multipliers
Machines and force
Wheels
Levers
A simple machine is a device that makes a job easier
Are designed to do the lifting job easier
The force you need to apply to get a job done is called the effort
Machines used in this was magnify the force you apply to a job. These machines are known as force multipliers
Lifting a car to change a tyre would require a huge effort.
This would be impossible but simple machines (Jack) with a fulcrum can make this so much easier
Most levers are force multipliers e.g. a crowbar
A lever is a simple machine that is a made of a long. rigid object, such as a stick or metal rod
if you used your fingers to lift up a screw in a plank of wood it would require such high force but the end of a hammer or crowbar are force multipliers making this easier
a wheel on its axle is a special type of lever
the centre of a wheel is called its axle and the outside of a wheel is its rim.
when you apple a force to turn on a tap, the handle acts as a wheel
Gears
Gears can be joined by a chain or mesh together
if the driven gear is smaller than the driver gear then you get a force multiplier
Gears are wheels that have teeth around their rim
the gear combination is called gearing down and is useful when you need more force