Students explore systems by examining the systems that make a bicycle work. They appreciate how the different systems of a bicycle relate to each other, and identify the properties of each subsystem.

Find out about simple machines, calculate the mechanical advantage and efficiency of machines, differentiate potential and kinetic energy, and learn ways to use energy more efficiently.

Hands-on challenge to build a machine out of cardboard that runs smoothly and dependably. Provides full list of materials with illustrations and ideas on how to build, test, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses on the...

This large PDF file contains seven lessons on simple machines. Includes illustrations. Requires Adobe Reader.

Robotics demonstration videos from Stanford Research Institute.

Describes hybrid vehicles and their contributions to increasing the efficiency of automobiles. Explains the challenges faced by the design team and shows a nice schematic. From a 1995 article.

All the important information on Rube Goldberg, including cartoons of Rube Goldberg machines complete with descriptions of how each machine works.

Great information on this nationally renowned Rube Goldberg design contest. Excellent descriptions and photos of machines are included.

Relates the horsepower rating seen on many motors to the energy and time requirements.

Excellent information of robotics projects at the University of Rochester, including video demonstrations of robots in action.

A wealth of information regarding the robotics projects at McGill University. Includes photos, video and informative text.

Descriptions and photos of the wide variety of robotics projects at Columbia University.

This poem describes the characteristics of an effective machine.

Magic School Bus cross referenced by themes to provide quick access to many activities and references.

As they examine two variations of a can opener, learners will discuss what the purpose is of each of its sub-parts, and which of the can openers is the better machine. They will also suggest improvements to the can opener. This is a...

In this game, students identify machines by selecting the words that fit the pictures. Links to other games are provided.

Another great compilation of the ideas and competitions of a city's robotics group. Exciting pictures of robots and competitions are all over this site, including a 4/5 working model of the Sojourner.

This site from the Australian National University provides good descriptions and photos of robots involved in research in Australia.

This personal site provides a good selection of proposed perpetual motion machines complete with drawings and detailed explanations of the machines.

Glencoe offers the STEM Handbook which outlines the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math in opening many career pathways.

Get a look into the life of the wacky machine inventor Rube Goldberg. Includes a terrific biography, a gallery of his cartoon inventions, and a link to The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest.

Robot enthusiasts in the Dallas area get together for contests and other sharing of robotic information. Great pictures of personal robots here!

This site has great descriptions and pictures of antique machines. Discussions of their horsepower, fuel and uses are all included.

The Museum of Science provides this site that shows the activity in which students sketch all the elements of a compound machine describing each component's function. Also includes an extension activity for homework.