SMET sketches and descriptions

Inclined plane
Our first simple machine we used was an inclined plane. An inclined plane is
a flat surface set at an anglke or incline with no moving parts, that is used to lift
objects without having to push/pull. We made it out of two pieces of wood. In our
machine a marble will roll down our inclined plane and into a spiral tube (screw).

Screw
Our second simple machine is a screw. A screw is an inclined plane wrapped
around a cylinder, forming the path and pitch. We have a plastic tube sprialling
around a piece of wood to represent our screw. In our machine the marble will roll
into the screw from the top (by the inclined plane) and out of the bottom, hitting a
tire that will fall into a cup.

Pulley
Our third simple machine is a pulley. A pulley is a lever consisting of a wheel
w/ groove which is used to change the direction and magnitude of force exterted by
rope. We used a fixed pulley in our machine. Our pulley is made using 2x4s and
other pieces of wood, and kinex, with a piece of string and a plastic cup with one
marble glued to it. One side of the rope is attached to a cup, which a tire will fall
into, pulling it down a few inches, which will lift up a wedge attached to the other
side.

Wedge
Our
fourth
simple
machine we used was a wedge. A wedge functions as an inclined plane, tapers to a
thin edge and is used for splitting something. Our wedge is just a small piece of
wood we cut into a triangle shape. In our machine a wedge is attached to a pulley
and when the weight is added to one side the wedge will be lifted up and hit a
matchbox car.

Wheel and

axle

The fifth simple machine we used was a wheel and axle. A wheel and axle
move together as a simple lever to lift or to move an item by rolling. We used a
matchbox car to represent the wheel an axle. The matchbox car is propped up on a
steep inclined plane with the back tires hanging off the edge so that when the
pulley lifts up the wedge it will hit the car, sending it down the ramp.

Lever
Our sixth and final simple machine is the lever. A lever is a rigid bar used to
exert a pressure/sustain weight at one point of its length by the application of force
at a second and turning at a third on a fulcrum. We used a first class lever (the
fulcrum is between the effort and resistance). The lever is made of carboard and is
sitting on a wedge shaped piece of wood stacked on a 2x4. The matchbox car will
roll through a tunnel in the 2x4 and hit a piece of cardboard that is propping up the
lever. Then the lever will drop a marble into the next teams cup, which will complete
out SMET machine.