Hands‑On Project: Simple Machines
In this activity, you’ll experiment with real physical mechanics by building either a lever or an Archimedes screw. This helps bridge theory with practice — exactly what engineering is all about!
Build a Lever
A lever is one of the simplest machines — but it’s powerful. You’ll learn about fulcrums, effort, and load while experimenting with balance and force.
- Materials: Ruler or stick, block or pencil (fulcrum), small weights (rocks, erasers, coins).
- Step‑by‑step:
- Place the ruler on the block so it can pivot.
- Put a weight on one end — this is the load.
- Press down on the other side — this is the effort.
- Move the fulcrum closer or farther and observe how hard it is to lift.
- Tip: The farther the effort is from the fulcrum compared to the load, the easier it is to lift!
Build an Archimedes Screw
The Archimedes screw is an ancient invention used to raise water. You're going to build a simple version to see how spiral motion can lift water upward.
- Materials: Clear plastic tubing, a stick/dowel, tape or zip ties, a bowl of water, and a cup to catch water.
- Step‑by‑step:
- Wrap the tubing around the stick in a spiral.
- Secure it so the spiral holds its shape.
- Submerge the bottom end in the water.
- Slowly rotate the stick — water will clamber up the tube.
- Observation: The screw lifts water through rotation without suction — cool, right?
Engineering Lens: Simple machines break hard problems (lifting, moving) into easier steps with clever geometry and leverage.
Reflection: How does changing fulcrum position change effort? What happens if the screw turns faster or slower?