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Simple Machines WebQuest
Check off each line as you go.
I.
Simple Machines
Go to the website http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple%2Dmachines/. You can find
this site on the Weebly!
Before you begin, save the file to your “My Documents” folder.
Click on “Click Here to Start.”
First go to the House – pick the garage, bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen (don’t worry you
get to do all four).
Answer the questions for the corresponding rooms. Make sure you are answering the
correct questions for the correct room!
Record your findings below.
Garage / Bathroom / Bedroom / Kitchen
1. Find all of the simple machines that are in the room.
2. Answer the questions that come up on the screen.
3. Record the simple machines you find in the data table below.
4. What was your final score before you left the room?
Data Table
Room
Garage
Simple Machines Found
Final Score
Bedroom
Bathroom
Kitchen
Now go into the Tool Shed.
Click on the Compound Machines (stapler, can opener, wheel barrow, or drill). Again,
don’t worry you get to do all of them!
Find all of the simple machines that make up the various compound machines and record
them in the data table below.
Data Table
Compound Machine
Stapler
Can Opener
Wheel Barrow
Drill
Simple Machines that Make Up the
Compound Machine
II.
More Simple Machines
Go to the website
http://www.cosi.org/downloads/activities/simplemachines/sm1.html.
Click on “What is a simple machine?” and answer below.
What is a simple machine?
The formula for work is …
Machines don’t change the amount of work,
they…
The two families of simple machines are…
The lever family includes…
The wedge family includes…
Click on “It’s all about mechanical advantage and answer below.
How does a block and tackle give mechanical
advantage?
What is efficiency?
III.
Mechanical Advantage
Watch the Bill Nye clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhzMYHiuEC4
Give an example of a simple machine he used and what the mechanical advantage
was of the machine
Go to the document http://go.hrw.com/resources/go_sc/hst/HSTMW531.PDF
Answer below and show your work!
Define mechanical advantage
Amanda uses a wheelbarrow to lift a load of
bricks. The bricks weigh 600 N, which is more
than Amanda could normally carry. However,
with the wheelbarrow, Amanda can lift the
bricks with as little as 120 N. What is the
mechanical advantage of the wheelbarrow?
Marshall wants to remove a tree stump from
the ground. To do this, he puts one end of a
long beam under the stump and puts all of his
weight on the other end. His weight is just
enough to lift the stump. The stump weighs
400 N. Marshall weighs
250 N. What is the mechanical advantage of
the lever Marshall is using?
A system of pulleys allows a mechanic to lift an
1800 N engine.
a. If the mechanic exerts a force of 600 N
on the pulley system, what is the
mechanical advantage of the machine?
b. What is the mechanical advantage of the
pulley system if the mechanic must
exert 800 N of force to lift the engine?
c. After improving the design of his pulley
system, the mechanic can now lift the
engine with a MA of 4. How much force
is now required to lift the engine?
IV.
Extension
(You may use this site to help you complete the task:
http://www.mikids.com/Smachines.htm)
The situation:
A large and unusual meteor has landed in your back yard! Miraculously, this meteor is made of a
strange material that absorbs the shock of impact and does not create a crater. Lucky for you, it
didn’t destroy the entire neighborhood! It has, however, disrupted the power grid so that no
electric power is available. It has also had a mysterious effect on combustion engines and none
of them will work! In addition to these properties, it seems almost indestructible and cannot be
cut or broken into pieces! Your task is to help move this meteor onto a horse drawn wagon so
that it can be transported to a scientific facility for study. It is estimated to weigh around 6 tons
(12,000 pounds). Using only simple machines create a plan to move and lift this strange meteor.
You must draw and label diagrams to show how you will lift/move this object. Submit this on a
separate sheet.
V.
Summary
Give three real-life examples of each simple machine that HAVE NOT already been used
in this webquest.
Wheel and axle
Lever
Wedge
Pulley
Screw
Inclined Plane
VI.
Turning In Work
Make sure your document is being saved in your “My Documents” folder
Save your webquest with this name … Last Name-First Name SM Webquest
DO NOT PRINT IT, you are only turning in a copy of your extension.
Check your name off on the clipboard to indicate that you are finished
VII.
Bonus
If time allows, you may go to
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/onlinestuff/games/grain_strain.aspx and
play the grain strain game!