Compound Machines & Systems
📋 What it is
Compound machines chain simple machines together so their advantages multiply into powerful systems.
🗣️ Coach says
A COMPOUND machine links simple machines so their effects multiply. A pair of scissors is two levers plus two wedges (the blades); a crane combines pulleys, levers and gears. When you chain machines, their mechanical advantages MULTIPLY — which is how relatively small forces move enormous loads.
🧠 Memory hook
Compound machine = simple machines chained → their advantages MULTIPLY into powerful systems.
😂 Giggle
Why do engineers love playgrounds?
Because seesaws are just levers with better marketing!
😲 Whoa!
A pair of scissors is secretly four simple machines at once — two levers (the handles) and two wedges (the blades) working together.
✅ Quick check: Why can compound machines move enormous loads with modest force?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Chaining simple machines multiplies their mechanical advantages together into a much larger total.
Combined advantages multiply, not just add.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Use scissors and notice the two levers (handles) and two wedges (blades) — a compound machine.