MachineForge ✕
◆ MachineForge Learn 🎓 Teach 🗺️ Adventure 🤝 Together 🔁 Review ⋯ More 🧭 My Journey Teach the Cast Some of MachineForge’s cast are still learning. When you teach them, YOU learn it best — catch what they get wrong, then quiz them.
✕ Teach Pry You be the teacher — Pry is still learning. Helping Pry figure it out is the practice. (Pry's progress stays on this device; nothing is sent anywhere.)
🎓 In a minute you'll be the teacher. Get ready to teach Pry: a lever.
A lever lets you push with less force over a longer distance. The work is the same, so no machine gives free energy.
Teach the connections
Show how the simple machines connect You've helped them one at a time. The real understanding is how the ideas CONNECT — teach that next.
Ramp (inclined plane — climb the long slow way for less force) × Auger (screw — a spiral inclined plane, round and round)
Why do we say a screw is 'just an inclined plane in disguise'?
Unwrap the screw's thread and it's Ramp's inclined plane coiled around a cylinder — same force-for-distance trade A screw is a kind of lever, not a ramp Screws and ramps share nothing but the name
Ramp then says: “A screw and a ramp are completely different machines with different rules.” — is that right?
A screw is a ramp wrapped into a spiral — same principle, coiled up Right, they're unrelated
The link: the screw is the inclined plane rolled around a post.
Coil a ramp and you've made a screw.
Pry (lever — push longer to lift heavier, around a fulcrum) × Spoke (wheel-and-axle — one turn of the hub, many turns of the rim)
How is turning a big steering wheel to move a small axle the same idea as prying with a long bar?
The rim is a long lever arm around the axle fulcrum — Spoke is Pry's lever curled into a circle A wheel-and-axle is a pulley, not a lever Levers and wheels use opposite, unrelated principles
Pry then says: “A wheel has nothing to do with levers — it just rolls.” — is that right?
A wheel-and-axle IS a rotating lever: the rim is the long arm, the axle the fulcrum Right, wheels and levers are unrelated
The link: a wheel-and-axle is a lever that goes all the way around.
Bend a lever into a circle — that's a wheel.
Capstone — build one lifting machine together Three simple machines, one heavy load. Bring in the cast member for each.
Push a long bar over a pivot to lift a heavy rock. Who?
Who do you bring in?
Pry — the lever Hoist — the pulley Cleave — the wedge
Pull a rope down here to raise a bucket up there. Who?
Who do you bring in?
Hoist — the pulley Ramp — the inclined plane Spoke — the wheel-and-axle
Roll a heavy barrel up a gentle slope instead of lifting it straight. Who?
Who do you bring in?
Ramp — the inclined plane Auger — the screw Pry — the lever
The synthesis: pry, hoist, and ramp — three ways to trade a bit of distance for a lot less force.
Lever, pulley, ramp — the load goes up easy.
Try it in the machine lab →
Reading Access Make reading comfier. Saved on this device only — nothing leaves your device.
Line spacing Normal Roomy Roomiest
Letter & word spacing Normal Wide Widest
Font Default OpenDyslexic Book
Reading tools Reading ruler Focus mode Read aloud Bigger tiles
Motion & sound No motion Sound off
Game look Usual Bigger and calmer
Same ideas with a younger band's look: bigger type and buttons, a rounder font, slower motion. For any child who wants it.
Heavy features Auto Full Lighter
Auto picks for this device. Lighter uses smaller downloads. Nothing is turned off.
Reset to defaults 