Kids Experiments -Simple machines and tools - How a Lever works

Kids Experiments -Simple machines and tools - How a Lever works

Materials : wooden ruler, textbook, a desktop

Procedure: Lay a ruler on your desk with part of it hanging over the edge. Place  textbook on the other end. Try to lift the book by pressing down on the part of the ruler that is sticking out. Repeat this procedure several times. Move the book, closer to the edge by pulling on the ruler. Continue until the book is right at the table's edge.

Things to think about during the experiment:

• What simple machine was used in this experiment?
• was it easier to lift the book with a short or a long ruler?
• Can you think of a time when you used a simple machine like this?

Conclusion: The ruler is a lever in this experiment. The edge of the table is the fulcrum & the book is the load. It is easier to move an object, like the book, when the fulcrum is closer to the load.