| Simple machines always fascinate me and I'm | | | | machines. The belt helps convey power from one |
| sure they will fascinate you enough to tell your | | | | pulley to the other. Many vehicles use this |
| parents or homeschool teacher to add them to | | | | mechanism to relay power to all wheels. When |
| your homeschool curriculum. In the following | | | | pulleys of different sizes are used, torque (driving |
| experiments, I am going to show you how to | | | | power) can be traded for speed and vice versa. |
| build some simple machines with household articles. | | | | The following homeschool curriculum experiment |
| The following homemade simple machine is a kind | | | | that I have designed will help you see how. |
| of a lever that helps lift a ping pong ball and | | | | Cool Pulley and Belt Mechanism: Find an old roller |
| various heavy objects. I will teach you to build it in | | | | skate with the wheels protruding from the sides. |
| no time and to make your homeschool curriculum | | | | The new inline models will not work. Place the |
| exciting. | | | | skate on its side so that it rests on one set of |
| Easy Popsicle Catapult: Place five large sized | | | | wheels and the other two wheels are facing |
| popsicle sticks one above the other and bind | | | | upwards. Wind a rubber band over these two |
| them tightly together by winding rubber bands on | | | | wheels. You are using the rubber band as a belt. |
| both ends. Now bind two large-sized popsicle | | | | What happens when you rotate one wheel |
| sticks in the same way but only wind the rubber | | | | clockwise? Which way does the other wheel |
| bands around one end. Pull the free ends of the | | | | rotate? |
| sticks wide apart in the shape of a "V." | | | | Now remove the rubber band from one wheel, |
| Now insert the stack of five in between the two | | | | keeping it still wrapped around the other wheel. |
| sticks forming a V and push it towards the rubber | | | | Give the rubber band a twist so that it looks like |
| band end, widening the angle of the V. Now | | | | an 8 and put it around the wheel. Now rotate one |
| secure the intersection with rubber band. Next, | | | | wheel clockwise. Which way does the other wheel |
| place the V on its side so that one arm of the V | | | | turn? I have now given you a fair idea of how |
| is resting on the table. On the other arm, glue a | | | | belts are used to make pulleys or wheels turn in |
| cap of a milk jug with the open end up. This cap | | | | the desired direction. |
| holds the projectile, which could be a ping pong | | | | Ball Bearing Experiment: Take a clean paint can |
| ball. Just a flick of the catapult's arm will send the | | | | without the lid. You will see that after removing |
| ping pong ball in the air. Have fun! | | | | the lid there is a rim that is grooved. Now place |
| Gears are wheels having teeth along their rims. | | | | an old heavy book or a similar object on this |
| These teeth fit into each other so that when | | | | groove. Try to turn the book. You will notice that |
| force is used to turn one wheel the same force is | | | | the book does not easily turn on the can. |
| relayed to the other wheel. | | | | Place some marbles all along the rim and place the |
| Bottle Cap Gears: Flatten out two bottle caps in | | | | same book on the marbles. Now try to turn the |
| such a way that they are round in shape and | | | | book. Is it easier? However there is still friction |
| their edges are still wavy. Now make holes in the | | | | between the marbles. How about putting a few |
| center of both and nail them to a wooden board | | | | drops of cooking oil in the ridge of the rim (this |
| in such a way that their wavy edges are in | | | | can get messy, so you may use a wooden sheet |
| contact with each other, forming the teeth of the | | | | or a chopping board instead of a book). |
| gears. When you rotate one cap, the other will | | | | Now place the object over the marbles and turn |
| also rotate, but in the opposite direction. This is a | | | | it. Is it easier to turn the book? The above |
| cool example of simple gears. | | | | homeschool curriculum experiment will give you an |
| Some gears have wheels of unequal diameters. In | | | | idea about how ball bearings are used in simple |
| such a case, when the larger wheel turns once | | | | machines to reduce friction. |
| the smaller wheel turns many times and | | | | Click the link below to check out the free |
| therefore magnifies the force. | | | | "Homeschool Parent's Guide to Teaching Science", |
| The pulley and belt combination is used in many | | | | for more great science experiments and activities. |