Introduction
Greek mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and engineer Archimedes boasted, “Give me a place to stand, and with a lever I will move the whole world.” Archimedes never moved the world, but he did change the world through the development of simple machine mechanisms.
In this activity you will explore the function and characteristics of the lever, wheel and axle, and pulley systems. You will see firsthand how simple machines manipulate energy to create a desired output.
Equipment
- POE VEX kit components
- Rulers and/or tape measures
- String
Procedure
For this activity your team of four will construct simple machines using VEX components. After you have constructed the simple machines, you will gather data to calculate mechanical advantage. It is important to be as accurate as possible in your measurements and documentation.
Terms to know to complete this activity:
The Effort (FE) is the force that you apply to the system.
The Resistance (FR) is the force or load that you are manipulating.
Greek mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and engineer Archimedes boasted, “Give me a place to stand, and with a lever I will move the whole world.” Archimedes never moved the world, but he did change the world through the development of simple machine mechanisms.
In this activity you will explore the function and characteristics of the lever, wheel and axle, and pulley systems. You will see firsthand how simple machines manipulate energy to create a desired output.
Equipment
- POE VEX kit components
- Rulers and/or tape measures
- String
Procedure
For this activity your team of four will construct simple machines using VEX components. After you have constructed the simple machines, you will gather data to calculate mechanical advantage. It is important to be as accurate as possible in your measurements and documentation.
Terms to know to complete this activity:
The Effort (FE) is the force that you apply to the system.
The Resistance (FR) is the force or load that you are manipulating.