Levers and Pulleys Around Us

See how levers and pulleys help us lift and move things.

~12 min Basic Science & Technology

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Simple machines make work easier. A lever and a pulley are two of them.

In this lesson you will:

Explain what a lever is.
Explain what a pulley does.
Spot examples of both at home or school.

Levers

A lever is a bar that turns on a fixed point called a pivot. A see-saw, a broom and a bottle opener are levers. A lever lets a small push lift a heavy load.

Pulleys

A pulley is a wheel with a rope or chain around it. Pulling the rope lifts a bucket from a well. A pulley changes the direction of your pull, so you can lift a load upwards by pulling downwards.

Look for them

A flagpole uses a pulley to raise the flag.

A wheelbarrow uses a lever to lift and carry a heavy load.

A see-saw is a lever with the pivot in the middle.

Note Simple machines do not create energy. They only make a job easier by changing the direction or size of a force.

Practice

Name the fixed point a lever turns on.
Give two examples of a lever in your home.
Explain how a pulley helps someone fetch water from a well.

Recap

Levers and pulleys are simple machines. They help us lift and move loads with less effort.

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Course contents

Simple Machines

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