Levers activity - Free Printable

Here's the complete solution to the worksheet “Simple machines: levers” with explanations for each part.

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1. Complete the text with the words in the box.

Words available:
> pivot point, simple, load, lever, effort, lift, see-saw

Completed text:

> A lever is a simple machine. It is an example of a see-saw. The pivot point is in the middle. In this drawing, the girl is the load and the boy applies the effort. With the see-saw the boy can lift the girl 1.5 m.

✔ Explanation:
- A lever is one of the six types of simple machines.
- A see-saw is a classic real-world example of a lever where the fulcrum (pivot point) is in the center.
- The pivot point is the fixed point around which the lever rotates — here, it’s the central support of the see-saw.
- The load is the object being moved or lifted — in this case, the girl sitting on one end.
- The effort is the force applied to move the load — here, the boy pushing down on his side.
- The boy uses effort to lift the girl up by 1.5 meters — that’s how levers work: applying force on one side to move a load on the other.

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2. Look at the photos and number the sentences.

You need to match each sentence (a–f) to the correct tool numbered 1–6.

Tools shown:
- 1: Bottle opener
- 2: Stapler
- 3: Tongs (or salad tongs)
- 4: Spoon (for stirring)
- 5: Nutcracker
- 6: Scissors

Matching:

> a) This lever cracks nuts. → 5 *(nutcracker)*
> b) This lever cuts paper. → 6 *(scissors)*
> c) This lever picks up food. → 3 *(tongs)*
> d) This lever stirs things. → 4 *(spoon — used as a lever when stirring)*
> e) This lever opens bottles. → 1 *(bottle opener)*
> f) This lever puts in staple. → 2 *(stapler)*

✔ Explanation:
- Each tool is a type of lever. For example:
- Nutcracker (5): You squeeze the handles (effort) to crack the nut (load).
- Scissors (6): Blades cut paper using the pivot point between the blades.
- Tongs (3): You press the ends to pick up food — the pivot is near the top.
- Spoon (4): When you stir, your hand applies effort at the handle, and the spoon moves the food (load) — it acts as a lever.
- Bottle opener (1): Leverages against the cap to open it.
- Stapler (2): Pressing down applies force to drive the staple through paper.

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3. Join the words with their definitions.

Match:
- a. Lever → ●3. It’s a rigid bar with a pivot point.
- b. Pivot point → ●1. The point where the lever turns.
- c. Load → ●4. The force of the object we need to move.
- d. Effort → ●2. The force applied.

✔ Explanation:
- Lever: A straight, rigid bar that pivots around a point to move loads — definition #3.
- Pivot point: Also called the fulcrum — the turning point of the lever — definition #1.
- Load: The weight or resistance you are trying to move — definition #4.
- Effort: The input force you apply to make the lever work — definition #2.

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✔ Final Answers Summary:

#### 1. Completed Text:
> A lever is a simple machine. It is an example of a see-saw. The pivot point is in the middle. In this drawing, the girl is the load and the boy applies the effort. With the see-saw the boy can lift the girl 1.5 m.

#### 2. Matching Sentences to Tools:
> a) → 5
> b) → 6
> c) → 3
> d) → 4
> e) → 1
> f) → 2

#### 3. Word-Definition Matching:
> a. Lever → ●3
> b. Pivot point → ●1
> c. Load → ●4
> d. Effort → ●2

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