How Machines Change Forces

Less force over a longer distance, or a change of direction.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 60

How do machines help? They don't create energy. They change how a force is used, in two main ways.
One way: less force over a longer distance. Both ramps reach the truck, but the long one takes less force. You just walk farther.
Levers trade too. Move the fulcrum nearer the load, and your push gets easier, but your hand moves farther.
The other way: change the direction. A single pulley lets you pull down to lift something up.
Try it with a grown-up: pull a toy up a ramp with a rubber band, and watch how far the band stretches on long and short ramps.

Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science:

S4P3.c — Ask questions to identify and explain the uses of simple machines (lever, pulley, wedge, inclined plane, wheel and axle, and screw) and how forces are changed when simple machines are used to complete tasks. (Clarification statement: The use of mathematical formulas is not expected.)