Identify Simple Machines in Action

In this worksheet, students will relate their understanding of simple machines to their application in the world around them, looking at how they are used in different ways.

Key stage: KS 2

Year: Year 5 Science worksheets

Curriculum topic: Forces

Curriculum subtopic: Mechanisms: Levers, Pulleys and Gears

Difficulty level:

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Worksheet Overview

In this activity, we will learn a little more about simple machines and how they work.

Either from your work in science, or if you've checked out the EdPlace activity 'Investigate Simple Machines', you'll know that simple machines are not complex and that three common ones you'll find in everyday life are...

LEVERS

GEARS

PULLEYS

So, what's their job?

Simply, to make life easier.

A lever helps you to convert your small force into a large one (just like a super-power!).

A pulley changes the direction of a force so that you can lift heavy things more easily.

Pulley

Meanwhile, gears help you to turn a slow speed into a fast one.

gears

In this activity, we're going to look at some simple machines and think about how to look out for them in our daily lives.

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