Science Kids: Simple Machines — Making Work Easier (Ep. 5)

Today's question: Have you ever used a ramp, a pulley, or a screwdriver? If you have, you've probably used a simple machine! A simple machine is a device that helps us change the way a force works. There are six classical simple machines. Let's count them: Lever. Wheel and axle. Pulley. Inclined plane. Wedge. And… Screw. Let's look at an inclined plane. That's basically a ramp. Imagine trying to lift a heavy box straight up onto a truck. That's difficult! But if you use a ramp, you can push the box up a longer distance using less force. That's one of the important ideas behind simple machines. They don't magically create energy. Instead, they can help us use force in a more useful way. A seesaw is an example of a lever. A doorknob is an example of a wheel and axle. A ramp is an inclined plane. A knife is an example of a wedge. And a screw is—you guessed it—a screw!