THE PULLEYTHE PULLEYTHE SCREWTHE SCREW

THE LEVERTHE LEVERTHE WHEEL &

AXLETHE INCLINED THE INCLINED

PLANEPLANE

THE WEDGETHE WEDGE

HISTORY

What do you think was the first Simple Machine???

Just remember every time you use a tool to do work you are using a simple machine. It can be a repair tool, gardening tool,

kitchen tool, or tools you use to play games like croquet or baseball.

Probably it was a large stick used to move heavy objects –

like rocks.

And the LEVERLEVER was born!

LEVERS

Or was it a sharp rock used to scrape animal skins????

The WEDGEWEDGE

Logs were used in early modern building to move huge rocks by rolling them along. These logs became WHEEL & AXLEWHEEL & AXLE around 3000 B.C., and were one of

the most important inventions in history.

The INCLINED PLANEINCLINED PLANE and Rollers were used in building the Great Egypt Pyramids (one of the 7 Wonders of the

World). 2.5 million limestone blocks (weighing 2 to 70 tons each) were moved hundreds of miles over 20

years. Ramps over one mile long were needed to place stones.

The LEVERLEVER, ROLLERSROLLERS, and PULLEYS PULLEYS were used to build Stonehenge, England.

Throughout all the early civilizations, including Lebanon, Peru, Bolivia, and

Easter Island – simple machines were used to build magnificent

buildings. In Lebanon, temples were built with blocks 64 feet long and 13

feet wide, weighing 1200 tons apiece. A force of 25,000 men was

required to raise one stone.

The LEVERLEVER, PULLEYSPULLEYS, WEDGESWEDGES, and the SCREWSCREW were all used early in

history

Many ancient machines were in common use in Da Vinci’s

time. For example, water wheels turned millstones to

grind grain and Archimedes' screws lifted water from

streams providing a

ready supply for drinking and

washing.