WHEEL AND AXLE:  A wheel and axle is a modification of a pulley. A wheel is fixed to a shaft. The wheel and shaft must move together to be a simple machine. Sometimes the wheel has a crank or handle on it. The wheel is any circular, rotating part in a machine.  The axle is the shaft on which a wheel turns.

 

Objectives:

Student will be able to:  identify a wheel and axle as a modification of a pulley, make a wheel and axle and explore how it is used to make work easier.

Materials:

Science Journal

empty spool of thread

string

paper cup

20 pennies

2 pencils

tape

Procedure:

• Push pointed end of pencils into each end of the thread spools (make sure they are secure).

• Suspend the pencils from the edge of a table with two loops of string - make sure they are level. Tape the string to the table

• Punch holes at the top of each paper cup. Attach a 60 cm string to each cup. Mark the cups A and B.

• Tape the string attached to cup A to the pencil and wind all of the string onto the pencil by turning the pencil away from you.

• Tape the string attached to cup B to the thread spool. Turn the pencils toward you to wind up all of the string onto the spool.

• Place 10 pennies in cup A.

• Cup B should be at its top position. Add pennies to cup B one at a time until it starts to move slowly.

• Observe the distance both cups moved.

Journal:

• Record your results

• Draw and interpret results