Simple Machines Reading Activity

SIMPLE MACHINES

1. Read the following passage

Machines are objects that make it easier for people to do work. Not all machines have lots of parts or motors. Simple machines have only one or two main parts. A shovel, a screwdriver, a knife, a broom, and even a slide on the playground are all simple machines.

Let’s learn about the six types of simple machines.

An inclined plane makes moving and lifting things easier. It is a flat, slanted surface that works like a ramp. Have you ever seen someone load heavy items into the back of a large truck? They may have used a ramp, or inclined plane, to load the truck more easily.

A wedge is a pair of inclined planes attached back-to-back. A wedge is used to force things apart. Have you ever seen someone chop wood with an ax? The head of an ax is a wedge.

A screw is a spiral wrapped around a center post. When you turn it, it can lift objects or hold two objects together. Have you ever opened a bottle of water? When you turn the cap one way, it opens. If you turn it the other way, it seals the bottle shut. The cap is a screw.

A lever is a bar that pivots or turns on a fixed point. The fixed point is called the fulcrum. Have you ever played on a seesaw? The seesaw is a lever. The support in the middle is the fulcrum.

A pulley is a wheel that is used with a cord or rope. When you pull it downward, the other end lifts upward. Have you ever seen someone hoist a flag up a flagpole? The flag is attached to a rope. At the top of the flagpole is a pulley. When you pull the rope downward, the flag rises up the pole.

A wheel and axle is made up of a wheel with a rod attached to it. When the wheel is turned, it turns the axle with it. Have you ever turned a round doorknob to open a door? When you turn a doorknob, you are using a wheel and axle. The knob is a wheel. The rod that it is attached to is an axle.

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B.Choose the most appropriate word from the table below  to complete the sentences below

motors	slide	inclined plane	wedge	spiral	seals
apart	one	upwards	opens	pivots	doorknob
lift	fulcrum	wheel	pulley	axle	objects

Machines are objects that make it easier for people to do work.

Not all machines have lots of parts or___motors_______

Simple machines have only___one____ or two main parts.

A shovel, a screwdriver, a knife, a broom, and even a _____slide____on the playground are all simple machines.

An____inclined plane________ makes moving and lifting things easier because it works like a ramp. Have you ever seen someone load heavy items into the back of a large truck? They may have used a ramp, or inclined plane, to load the truck more easily.

A____wedge_____ is a pair of inclined planes attached back-to-back. A wedge is used to force things __apart______.

Have you ever seen someone chop wood with an ax? The head of an ax is a__wedge_____

A screw is a _____spiral____wrapped around a center post. When you turn it, it can ____lift___objects or hold two objects together. Have you ever opened a bottle of water?

When you turn the cap one way, it_____opens____. If you turn it the other way, it___seals____the bottle shut. The cap is a screw.

A lever is a bar that ____pivots_______or turns on a fixed point. The fixed point is called the ____fulcrum_____Have you ever played on a seesaw? The seesaw is a lever. The support in the middle is the fulcrum.

A pulley is a____wheel_______ that is used with a cord or rope.

When you pull it downward, the other end lifts_____upward_______. Have you ever seen someone hoist a flag up a flagpole? The flag is attached to a rope. At the top of the flagpole is a_____pulley______. When you pull the rope downward, the flag rises up the pole.

A wheel and ___axle____is made up of a wheel with a rod attached to it. When the wheel is turned, it turns the axle with it. Have you ever turned a round to open a door? When you turn a___doorknob_______, you are using a wheel and axle. The knob is a wheel. The rod that it is attached to is an axle.

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C.Read the sentences below and say whether they are true or false

1. A screw is an inclined plane._______True_________
2. A door knob works on the basis of a wheel and axle.______True_____
3. A scissors uses a pulley system ._______False_____________
4. When u open a bottle lid, it uses an inclined plane .______False___________
5. An axe works with gears.______False__________
6. A wheel barrow works with a lever system. ______False____________________

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D. Match Column A with Column B. Use different coloured highlighter of fonts to match them.

COLUMN A	COLUMN B
Machines are objects that	makes moving and lifting things easier.
Simple machines have only	pivots or turns on a fixed point.
An inclined plane	wrapped around a center post.
An inclined plane is a flat, slanted	hold two objects together.
A wedge is used	Which is supported in the middle at the fulcrum.
A screw is a spiral	one or two main parts.
A screw can lift objects or	to force things apart.
A lever is a bar that	surface that works like a ramp.
The seesaw is a lever	the flag rises up the pole.
A pulley is a wheel that is used	wheel with a rod attached to it.
When you pull the rope downward,	with a cord or rope.
A wheel and axle is made up of a	make it easier for people to do work