Horrible Science: Mr Simpling's Museum Of Marvellous Machines

Part ofScienceHorrible Science

What are simple machines?

Mr Simpling demonstrating the marvellous amazing machine that is the pulley

Simple machines are devices such as levers, screws and pulleys. They are all designed to help us. Simple machines use a smaller force to have a greater effect and change motion.

The six simple machines are:

  • inclined plane
  • lever
  • pulley
  • screw
  • wedge
  • wheel and axle
Mr Simpling demonstrating the marvellous amazing machine that is the pulley
Back to top

Watch: Mr Simpling's Museum Of Marvellous Machines

Explore a variety of marvellous machines with Mr Simpling.

Back to top

How do simple machines help us?

Axles

An axle is a rod that passes through the centre of a wheel. The wheel grips the axle tightly, so the wheel and axle turn together.

Axles help wheels stay in place and spin smoothly.

Mr Simpling is unusually overexcited at the sight of a simple inclined plane. What a strange chap he is!

Gears

Gears are wheels with teeth that interlock with each other, a belt or a chain. When two gears are locked together, they rotate and transfer motion energy from one gear to another.

Gears are found in mechanisms like bikes and watches.

Inclined Planes

An inclined plane is a slope.

Examples include slides, stairs and escalators.

Mr Simpling is unusually overexcited at the sight of a simple inclined plane. What a strange chap he is!
An illustration of a pulley

Pulleys

A pulley is small wheel with a groove where a rope sits.

When the rope is pulled, you are able to lift a heavier load with a little effort.

Screws

Screws turn a turning force into a downward force.

An illustration of a pulley

Horrible Science fact

Simple machines, like leavers, use a smaller force to have a greater effect and change motion.

If you want to learn more about levers then just ask Clive – The Man With The Lever Dream..

He is ever so slightly obsessed with them!

Back to top

Quiz: Mr Simpling's Machine Quiz

Back to top

More on Horrible Science

Find out more by working through a topic