Simple and Compound Machines Trivia Quiz

Answer: Crowbar

A lever is used to lift or pry an object loose. Levers consist of an arm or bar and a fulcrum, which is a fixed point on which the lever pivots. Levers come in three classes depending on where the effort and load are in relation to the fulcrum. A crowbar is usually considered a class one lever since the fulcrum would be in the middle between the load and the force when the curved section of the crowbar is used to lift or pry a load.

Other levers include door handles, claw hammers, and bottle openers.

Answer: Rolling pin

A wheel turning on an axle allows for items to be moved more easily. It is somewhat like a lever, in that the wheel revolves around the fulcrum, but where a lever usually has a limited range of motion, the wheel allows for continuous rotation. A gear is an example of a wheel and axle, as is a rolling pin.

The long cylinder of the rolling pin is the wheel, and the axle is contained within, with the handles of the rolling pin attached to the axle.

Answer: Flagpole

German engineer Franz Reuleaux pointed out that a lever, a pulley, and a wheel and axle are essentially the same device: a body rotating on a fulcrum or hinge. He also noted that an inclined plane, a wedge, and a screw can be considered similar because they consist of a block sliding on a flat surface.

A pulley is a variation of a wheel and axle in that a cord, rope or belt rotates around a wheel. The rotation makes it easier to lift and lower objects, such as raising a flag on a flagpole or lifting blinds.

Answer: Ramp

An inclined plane is a slanted surface that is used to raise or lower loads. A ramp is the most basic example of an inclined plane, as is a slide. It might seem odd to consider an inclined plane as a machine but it allows for the effort necessary in moving a load up or down to be reduced; it is easier to push the load up or down than carry it.

Answer: Axe head

A wedge may be described as a double inclined plane that can be used to force an object, or objects, apart or to lift or hold items in place due to friction. An axe head is a standard example of a wedge; the points of the inclined planes are used to split apart an item when the axe is thrust against it.

A doorstop is another example of a wedge; here, the friction provided by the wedge keeps a door in place.

Answer: Drill bit

A screw is basically a twisted inclined plane. It uses rotational movement to raise an object, such as water in the example of Archimedes' screw. Screws are also used to hold items in place, such as a screw that is used with a screwdriver. A drill bit is a screw that is used to make holes in wood, lifting the wood bits out of the hole.

Answer: Scissors

Scissors consist of two wedges connected by levers. The wedges act in opposite directions, which is what provides the cutting action. They may be thin wedges, but they're wedges! The handles are the levers.

Answer: Wheelbarrow

The wheel and axle on a wheelbarrow are easy to see, and the lever is the handles with the fulcrum being where the handles attach to the wheel. Some sources also include an inclined plane as part of the wheelbarrow, with the tub being the inclined plane.

Answer: Escalator

In the simplest sense, an escalator consists of the inclined plane of the stairs and the pulley that moves the stairs. It is basically a conveyor belt that operates at an incline. Some sources merely mention the inclined plane, while others include a wheel and axle with the pulley.

Answer: Corkscrew

Given its name, it is not surprising that a corkscrew includes a screw. A corkscrew is used to remove a cork from a bottle. A handle at the top of the device is turned to push the screw into the cork. Then two levers are pressed down to pull the screw upwards, removing the cork.