For this activity, you'll need each child to have two wooden blocks, one fat wedge, one skinny wedge, and a ruler. After setting the two wooden blocks side-by-side, they use the different wedges to push the blocks apart, recording the...

In this inclined planes worksheet, students investigate the effort force needed to move a 1 kg weight up a ramp to different distances on the ramp. Students calculate the work input and output for each trial as well as the...

Here is a nifty worksheet on energy transfer. Physics fanatics analyze a diagram and state whether or not friction is involved. They sketch bar graphs and draw energy flow diagrams for each system as well. Circular motion, movement up...

What do skateboarding and baked goods have in common with math? You can use them to connect half-pipe ramps and cakes to arcs and sectors. Pupils compare the lengths of three different ramp options of a skate park. They calculate the...

Class members are challenged to design a device that will move a circus elephant into a train car. Groups brainstorm ideas that use simple machines to load the elephant. They then choose one of their ideas, sketch a plan, and present it...

Teach young engineers that all machines, no matter how complicated or complex, are made up of just six simple devices with this hands-on physical science instructional activity. Using the included templates, students first create...

In this pulleys, levers and incline planes worksheet, students answer 22 questions about output force, energy loss, and net force on pulleys, levers and incline planes.

Looking for the best inclined plane for the job? Groups calculate the theoretical mechanical advantage for four different inclined planes. They determine the actual mechanical advantage by measuring the amount of force needed for the...

In this simple machine learning exercise, students explore incline planes and learn how to calculate the mechanical advantage (MA) using forces or distance. This learning exercise has 14 matching, 3 fill in the blank, and 6 short answer...

For this physics worksheet, students model the acceleration, velocity, and position of a cart moving up an inclined plane. They take data and determine a pattern in the data. Students also describe their findings and create an illustration.

In this scientific investigation worksheet, students follow the provided procedures to create an inclined plane paper model and then respond to 1 short answer question.

Use inverse trigonometric functions to work with ramps, rabbits, and Talladega. The class models real-world situations with trigonometric functions and solves them using inverses in the 15th installment of a 16-part series. Pupils solve...

In this inclined planes worksheet, learners find machines at home that screw and record the object and the direction of the screw. Students find 5 machines.

In this museum student guide worksheet, young scholars make a mini-book about simple machines to be used during a visit to the Museum of Science and Industry. They locate the exhibits that demonstrate the wedge, inclined plane, screw,...

Ramp up the engineering design process in your classroom with an activity that challenges teams to design, build, and test a small-scale portable wheelchair ramp. The class develops design requirements, and teams test their designs...

In this matching types of simple machines learning exercise, 5th graders read the definition and examples of simple machines, then match 10 pictures of devices with 4 categories.

In this slope worksheet, 9th graders solve and complete 6 different problems that include completing charts and applying applications to the real world. First, they use the pictures shown to measure the riser and tread of 3 consecutive...

In this simple machines worksheet, students follow the 5 directions and create a model of an inclined plane. Materials needed are a pencil, paper and tape.

What does slope have to do with lines? Pupils work with lines and determine the slope of the lines informally and with the slope formula. Groups use their knowledge to calculate the slopes of parallel and perpendicular lines. They also...

Get ready for the big storm with a vocabulary activity! Using a word bank and context clues, young learners fill in the blanks in a passage about a day at the park that leads to stormy weather.

In this physics instructional activity, students use the clues given on the sheet to complete the crossword puzzle on simple machines. There are 18 clues to solve in the puzzle.

In this simple machines worksheet, students fill out a chart involving 6 simple machines while explaining the function and benefits of each one. Students describe which simple machine they feel has had the greatest impact on mankind.

For this inclined planes worksheet, students review the equations for mechanical advantage using forces or distance. Students complete 6 matching, 11 fill in the blank, and 6 problems to solve.

In this science investigation worksheet, learners follow the directions to perform an experiment with inclined planes. Students record their data on a chart and answer 2 essay questions.