TryEngineering: Simple Machines

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published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
supported by the International Business Machines

This is a lesson plan that allows teachers to integrate the concepts of simple machines and work into the classroom. Students examine the different types of simple machines, their uses, and how to determine how much work is done using these simple machines. Appropriate for grades 5-8.

The lesson follows a module format that includes objectives and learner outcomes, problem sets, student guides, recommended reading, illustrated procedures, worksheets, and background information about the engineering connections. The lesson plan and student worksheets are available for download. This collection is part of TryEngineering.org, a website maintained by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Editor's Note: We recommend this lesson to introduce younger kids to the concept of work as a physics term. It fully explores the idea that, to do work, forces must cause displacements. It will help prepare students to understand the work-energy theorem in subsequent physics courses. See Related Materials for additional high-quality resources on simple machines.

https://tryengineering.org/teacher/simple-machines/

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Work and Energy = Simple Machines = Work Education Practices - Active Learning Other Sciences - Engineering	- Middle School - Elementary School	- Instructional Material = Activity = Instructor Guide/Manual = Laboratory = Lesson/Lesson Plan = Student Guide

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science	- Lesson Plan - Activity - Laboratory - New teachers	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Educator
Learner
Formats:: application/pdf
application/ms-word
text/html
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2006 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Keywords:: Inclined Plane, Wheel and Axle, applied physics, engineering design, engineering lessons, levers, mechanical engineering, pulley, screws, wedge
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created July 23, 2012 by Zachary Davis
Record Updated:: August 10, 2020 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: December 4, 2010

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AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

3. The Nature of Technology

3B. Design and Systems

3-5: 3B/E1. There is no perfect design. Designs that are best in one respect (safety or ease of use, for example) may be inferior in other ways (cost or appearance). Usually some features must be sacrificed to get others.

4. The Physical Setting

4F. Motion

3-5: 4F/E1bc. The greater the force is, the greater the change in motion will be. The more massive an object is, the less effect a given force will have.
6-8: 4F/M3a. An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed or direction of motion, or both.

11. Common Themes

11B. Models

3-5: 11B/E4. Models are very useful for communicating ideas about objects, events, and processes. When using a model to communicate about something, it is important to keep in mind how it is different from the thing being modeled.

12. Habits of Mind

12D. Communication Skills

3-5: 12D/E2. Make sketches or diagrams to aid in explaining procedures or ideas.
3-5: 12D/E3. Use numerical data in describing and comparing objects and events.
3-5: 12D/E7. Write a clear and accurate description of a real-world object or event.

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=12265">International Business Machines. TryEngineering: Simple Machines. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, December 4, 2010.</a>

AIP Format

(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2006), WWW Document, (https://tryengineering.org/teacher/simple-machines/).

AJP/PRST-PER

TryEngineering: Simple Machines (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2006), <https://tryengineering.org/teacher/simple-machines/>.

APA Format

TryEngineering: Simple Machines. (2010, December 4). Retrieved December 8, 2023, from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: https://tryengineering.org/teacher/simple-machines/

Chicago Format

International Business Machines. TryEngineering: Simple Machines. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, December 4, 2010. https://tryengineering.org/teacher/simple-machines/ (accessed 8 December 2023).

MLA Format

TryEngineering: Simple Machines. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2006. 4 Dec. 2010. International Business Machines. 8 Dec. 2023 <https://tryengineering.org/teacher/simple-machines/>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Title = {TryEngineering: Simple Machines}, Publisher = {Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers}, Volume = {2023}, Number = {8 December 2023}, Month = {December 4, 2010}, Year = {2006} }

Refer Export Format

%T TryEngineering: Simple Machines %D December 4, 2010 %I Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers %U https://tryengineering.org/teacher/simple-machines/ %O application/pdf

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%0 Electronic Source %D December 4, 2010 %T TryEngineering: Simple Machines %I Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers %V 2023 %N 8 December 2023 %8 December 4, 2010 %9 application/pdf %U https://tryengineering.org/teacher/simple-machines/

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