The Six Simple Machines

The Simple Machines

Machine-Specific Rules

If You Use A/An Be Sure That

Inclined Plane the step pulls the load up the length of the incline

Wheel and Axel the wheel and axle have different radii, and the wheel must make more than one full rotation for the step to function

Screw the screw makes at least one full rotation, and the rotation of the screw must pull or push a nut along the threads for the step to work

Wedge the wedge must move along the axis of its altitude, and the tapered shape of the wedge must cause it to separate two things from one another in order for the step to work (if the step would work just as well if the wedge were replaced with a simple block, then you're not using it as a wedge)

The six simple machines are described in our textbook on page 235.
Youcan also visit the HyperPhysics web site on simple machines by clicking the image below.

The Simple Machines
Machine-Specific Rules
If You Use A/An	Be Sure That
Inclined Plane	the step pulls the load up the length of the incline
Wheel and Axel	the wheel and axle have different radii, and the wheel must make more than one full rotation for the step to function
Screw	the screw makes at least one full rotation, and the rotation of the screw must pull or push a nut along the threads for the step to work
Wedge	the wedge must move along the axis of its altitude, and the tapered shape of the wedge must cause it to separate two things from one another in order for the step to work (if the step would work just as well if the wedge were replaced with a simple block, then you're not using it as a wedge)

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