Here are the answers to fill in the blanks for your worksheet on Simple Machines.
1.
force
*(Simple machines make work easier by changing how strong a force is or which way it pushes/pulls.)*
2.
pulley
*(A pulley uses a wheel and rope to change the direction you pull, like pulling down to lift something up.)*
3.
fulcrum
*(The fulcrum is the pivot point or support that a lever turns around.)*
4.
lever
*(A catapult works like a lever; it has a long arm that pivots to throw objects.)*
5.
first-class, second-class (or third-class)
*(Levers are grouped into three classes based on where the fulcrum, load, and effort are placed. Any two of these are correct.)*
6.
wheel and axle
*(This machine consists of a large wheel attached to a smaller rod, rotating together around a center.)*
7.
teeth
*(Gears have teeth on their edges so they can lock together and turn each other.)*
8.
ramp (or inclined plane)
*(A ramp lets you push things up to a high place gradually instead of lifting them straight up.)*
9.
inclined plane
*(Stairs are basically a series of small ramps or steps that act as an inclined plane.)*
10.
screw
*(If you unwrap the stairs of a spiral staircase, they form a long slope wrapped around a center, just like a screw thread.)*
11.
inclined plane
*(A screw is technically an inclined plane [a ramp] wrapped around a cylinder.)*
12.
pitch
*(The pitch is the measurement of the space between the ridges or threads on a screw.)*
13.
simple machine (or complex machine)
*(Artificial body parts like prosthetic arms use joints and levers to help people move, acting like machines.)*
14.
pulleys
*(Cranes use systems of pulleys to multiply force and lift very heavy construction materials.)*
15.
force
*(In physics, there is a trade-off: if you pull more rope distance, you need less strength/force to lift the weight.)*
16.
cables (or wires / grip mechanism)
*(San Francisco cable cars are pulled along the street by moving cables running underground.)*
17.
pulleys
*(Sailors use pulleys to pull ropes tight and raise the heavy sails up the mast.)*
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of work and simple machines worksheet answers.
