Simple Machines
Concepts taught:
Work and force
Mechanical Advantage
Geometry
Friction
Measurement
Conversion of units
Simple Machines
Levers
Wheels
and Axles
Belts
and Pulleys
Gears
Inclined
Planes
Resources:
Simple machines web page
Ramp challenge design brief
Teacher assigned design briefs from design challenges
page
Teachers will:
Prepare a presentation which:
Describes the relationship
between force and work.
Describes friction.
Shows examples of simple machines
and how they are used to do work.
Lead a discussion on simple machines and give examples of
where they are found in robots.
Build a simple adjustable ramp that can be used for the
ramp challenge.
Students will:
Participate in teacher led discussion on the following
topics:
Work and force
What is friction?
Calculating mechanical advantage
gained from the following simple machines: levers, wheels and axles, pulleys, and gears.
The differences and similarities
between gears and pulleys.
Activities:
Using the Tankbot, show how to minimize and maximize
friction to your advantage while participating in the ramp challenge
Modify Tankbot to use pulleys and belts instead of gears
Make tankbot faster/slower
Evaluation:
In class participation
Teacher observation
Completion of teacher assigned lab activities.
Open Ended Design Challenges:
RoboLift
Develop a web page demonstrating Lego and
simple machines
Levers
Wheels and Axles
Belts and Pulleys
Gears
Inclined Planes