Simple Machines

Looking for simple machines throughout my house was pretty simple, because they are everywhere!  Here are just a few examples:

Lever:  A lever is a simple machine.  A lever is a board or bar that rests on a turning point.  This turning point is called the fulcrum.  An object that a lever moves is called the load.  The closer the object is to the fulcrum, the easier it is to move.  An example of a lever is this bottle opener:

Inclined Plane:  An inclined plane is a simple machine.  It is a flat surface that is higher on one end.  You can use this machine to move an object to a lower or higher place.  Inclined planes make the work of moving things easier.  You would need less energy and force to move objects with an inclined plane. An example of an inclined plane is a ceiling fan:

Wheel and Axle:  The wheel and axle is another simple machine.  The axle is a rod that goes through the wheel.  This lets the wheel turn.  It is easy to move things from place to place with wheels and axles.  An example of a wheel and axle is this bicycle gear:

Screw:  A screw is a simple machine that is made from another simple machine.  It is actually an inclined plane that winds around itself.  A screw has ridges and is not smooth like a nail.  Some screws are used to lower and raise things.  They are also used to hold objects together.  An example of a screw is a key ring:

Wedge: A wedge is a simple machine used to push two objects apart.  A wedge is made up of two inclined planes.  These planes meet and form a sharp edge.  This edge can split things apart.  An example of a wedge is a knife:

Pulley: This simple machine is made up of a wheel and a rope.  The rope fits on the groove of the wheel.  One part of the rope is attached to the load.  When you pull on one side of the pulley, the wheel turns and the load will move.  Pulleys let you move loads up, down, or sideways.  Pulleys are good for moving objects to hard to reach places.  It also makes the work of moving heavy loads a lot easier.  An example of a pulley would be blinds on a window:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

In my own home, my family tries to be as environmentally friendly as possible.  We practice "reducing, reusing, and recycling" daily.  For example, to reduce the use of plastic bags when we go shopping, my mom & I like to use the little canvas type bags that many stores now sell or provide.  A common estimate is that global consumption of plastic bags is over 500 billion plastic bags annually, that’s 500,000,000,000 plastic bags used per year. In other words, that’s almost 1 million plastic bags used per minute.  Using these canvas bags to shop is one way that I can help to reduce this number.

In terms of reusing, my family often reuses items such as water bottles, Ziploc bags, and plastic bags when we do get them from the store.  We wash out plastic disposable water bottles and I will take them with me to the gym where I will then place them in a recycling bin when I am done with them.  Also, when we do have plastic bags from the grocery store we use them around the house as trash bags.  Not only is this better for the environment, but it saves money on having to buy trash bags from the store.

To recycle, we try to throw the least amount of stuff away in the trash as possible.  We put any recyclable items such as plastic cartons, newspapers, and aluminum cans in a recycling bin which gets picked up from our neighborhood once a week.  Recycling is something that does not take a lot of time or effort from us, but I know that it can make a HUGE difference in the long run.