Simple Machines:  These are the topics and activities we looked at during our simple machines unit

Inclined Plane:  Here is the website for the inclined plane activity that we did in class.

Here's a site about Newton's Laws

Try this:

Pulleys, Pulleys, Pulleys!   try this fun pulley activity.  As you increase the length of the rope, what happens to the force needed? Email me ljacoby@parkschool.net with your conclusion!

Inclined Plane and Pulleys together! combine simple machines and see what you can do!  Time the difference between 1 pulley and 4 pulleys.  What do you notice as you increase the number of pulleys and length of the inclined plane?

Email me ljacoby@parkschool.net with your conclusion!

• **Balancing Pik and Harry - use the slider bars to try and balance tiny Pic and large Harry on a teeter totter. What do you have to do to get them balanced?
• Edheads Simple Machines - these are great activities to test your understanding of the simple machines we've been studying. 
• Edheads The Compound Machine - learn how forces and simple machines can work together to create The Compound Machine!
• Which Wedge is Better?  -  Try the activity with wedges.  Which takes more force - a shorter wedge or a longer wedge (you lengthen and shorten the wedge by dragging the tip of the wedge found in the box under the data table then click the add mass button) ? If you want you can email me ljacoby@parkschool.net with your results! 
• Try out this lever! - this is in the same series as the ones above.  Tell me at which position (how many meters) you can start to lift the block.  What happens to the force needed as the fulcrum gets closer to the load?  Email me ljacoby@parkschool.net with your results!

Videos watched in class:

Rube Goldberg Machine - check out the video called "The Cog".  What starts the motion?  how does it continue?

This video is about the making of The Cog - see trial and error in action!!

Check out this amazing video about some complex machines moving a very large tree! 

Think about the following questions: 

• Why do they keep spraying water under the tree sled? 

• Why do tractors have the treads that they have on their wheels? 

Games and activities:

Blasto the human cannonball - change the variables to Blasto to hit the target

Friction - use friction to stop a traffic collision