Simple Machines Vocab

property that enables something to do work

• energy
• input/effort force
• mechanical efficiency 
• fulcrum

apply a force to move an object over a distance; the object moves in response to the force

• energy
• input/effort force
• work
• mechanical efficiency 

a device that reduces the  amount of effort force needed to do work by increasing the distance that the force is applied

• fulcrum
• complex machine
• spring scale
• simple machine

a push or pull that is applied to an object

• mechanical efficiency 
• input/effort force
• work
• energy

a rigid bar or board that is free to move around a fixed point called a fulcrum

• lever
• pully
• incline plane
• wedge

a fixed point that a lever moves around

• lever
• spring scale
• fulcrum
• inclined plane

a grooved wheel with a rope running along the groove

• lever
• pulley
• inclined plane
• wedge

a sloping surface (like a ramp) that reduces the amount of force required to move an object or load

• lever
• pulley
• inclined plane
• wedge

an inclined plane that moves; like a knife. how sharp the wedge is can change the efficiency of the wedge

• lever
• pulley
• fulcrum
• wedge

measures how well a machine converts input energy, work & power into output energy, work & power

• mechanical efficiency 
• input/effort force
• energy
• work