Simple Machines: Pulleys and Levers

Simple Machines: Pulleys and Levers (4th –high school)

Presenter: Carl Pierce

Hands-on:  The presentation is basically introducing simple machines and how they amplify or reduce force. The students will see how using a pulley system can work to their advantage.   A game of tug-o-war or the moving of a large object like a car can illustrate the point.   This is up to the teachers discretion and time restraints. Student will attempt a task without mechanical advantage and then attempt it with mechanical devices. They will also see how mechanical advantage can be enhanced by adding more pulleys and be shown some of the real world applications for the pulleys they created such as rescue techniques in white water and mountain climbing.