Week 5 History Essay

In what ways do you use simple machines in your life? Identify two or three and explain them.

            The simple machines that I use in my life are the screw, the pulley, and the wheel-and-axle. First, I will talk about the screw. Screws are used to hold things together. They are like nails, but have a twirly metal shaft instead of a straight one. I see screws all over the place: in my desk, in my toys, in my house, and in my bicycle. They are everywhere. Next is the pulley. A pulley is a simple machine that is shaped like a circle and is used to lift heavy things. You can put a rope over the top of the circle of the pulley, and it makes it easier for people to lift something that they would normally have trouble lifting. I use a rope and a tree branch to lift things up the tree when my siblings and I are playing outside. I know this is not exactly a pulley, but it works the same way. Lastly, I use a wheel-and-axle in my car and on my bicycle. A wheel is a round wood or metal or plastic disc and an axle is like a pole that goes through the center of the disk. The axle can connect to another wheel and allow the wheels to spin to move things like a carriage or a car.