Curated OER
What Does a Quarter Weigh?
Students study the historical figures and symbols of U.S.
patriotism depicted on the penny, nickel, dime, and quarter coins. They
create a balance scale from common materials to measure the approximate weight
of a quarter.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Lever an Obelisk
Investigate the mechanical advantage of the lever in this interactive activity from the NOVA Web site.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Give It a Lift With a Lever
Simple machines allow us to do difficult tasks like lifting objects heavier than our body weight. In this science project you'll build a tabletop lever and measure how much effort it takes to lift an object by altering the length of the...
Science Struck
Science Struck: Simple Machine: Levers
Explains what a lever is, its history, how it works, the formula for calculating its mechanical advantage, classes of levers, and uses of levers.
Other
D&t Online: Levers
This site illustrates different classes of levers that are used in simple machines.
Other
Manhattan Beach Unified School District: Levers and Other Simple Machines
Learn about levers and make the connection between these simple machines and the human body.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Lever
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Definition of a lever and the three different classes, and how each one changes force.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Reporters: The Lever
This site provides a description of the lever and its many uses.
Ohio University
Haptic Augmented Simple Machines: The Lever
An explanation of the three types of levers, with examples of each. The formula for the law of equilibrium is also demonstrated.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The Forearm as an Example of a Third Class Lever
This is a five-question quiz related to the passage "The Forearm as an Example of a Third-class Lever."
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Levers: How the Human Body Uses Them to Its Advantage
Students will apply the concept of levers to the human body and build all three classes of levers within a musculoskeletal context. They will be shown how the musculoskeletal system is a system of levers and one example of each type of...
Integrated Publishing
Integrated Publishing: Levers
A quite lengthy chapter on the simple machine the lever. Includes uses, classes, mechanical advantage, formulae, etc. A full discussion, with good illustrations.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Build a Lever
Step-by-step illustrated instructions for an experiment investigating how a lever works. An explanation of the science involved is given at the end.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Levers:relationship of Force of Effort & Resistance Fulcrum Placement
Students investigate the relationship between the two forces and the location of the fulcrum in a first class lever. Students work in cooperative groups of approximately three to make observations that they can then generate a formula...
Ohio State University
Ohio State Univ.: Simple Machines & Mechanical Advantage [Pdf]
This site details how simple machines create a mechanical advantage for humans. Levers, theoretical mechanical advantage, actual mechanical advantage, and pulley systems are discussed.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Plix: Simple Machines: Lever
[Free Registration/Login Required] Drag the labeled triangles to indicate where the fulcrum of this third-class lever is as well as the input and output forces.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Secrets of Lost Empires Ii: Lever Lift
Examine the classes of levers and discover how levers work by raising a brick with shish kebab skewers.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Secrets of Lost Empires Ii: Lever an Obelisk
Utilize an understanding of how a lever works to lift an obelisk, using as few of the weights and support stones as possible in this online interactive activity.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Force and Motion: Simple Machines
A slideshow and a short quiz on simple machines and how they reduce the amount of work or effort needed to complete a task.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Secrets of Lost Empires I Obelisk
Investigate how levers can be used to lift objects and discover how the position of the fulcrum affects the force and the distance of the load lifted.
The Franklin Institute
Spotlighting Simple Machines
Simple machines such as inclined planes in wedges and screws are explained.