Alpha science classroom： Lighten the Load with a Pulley

Did the kids know? Before the industrial age, people had to rely heavily on their own muscle power to move and lift heavy objects. Because they didn't have simple machines like pulleys, levers, and ramps to make it easier for humans to lift heavy objects like rocks and logs, do you know how pulleys work, kids? Today, the alpha science classroom is teaching children about the physical science involved in pulleys by teaching them to Lighten the Load with a Pulley in this children's physical science experiment project. This easy kid's science experiment activity allows children to explore using simple household materials.

Alpha Science Classroom: Reducing the Load with Pulleys Materials Needed

• Two empty cereal boxes

• Two pencils

• Four paper clips

• At least 10 metal washers or hex nuts of the same size

• String

• Scissors

• Ruler (optional)

• Empty spool of thread (optional)

Alpha Science Classroom: Lighten the Load with a Pulleys Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: First, children place two cereal boxes parallel to each other on a table or desk and carefully poke two holes in the top (inside) of the cereal box so that you can put a pencil through the holes and have it supported by the box. (If necessary, ask an adult to help with this part.)

Step 2: Children cut a piece of string slightly longer than the height of one cereal box and tie a paper clip to each end of the string.

Step 3: Children hang the string from a pencil with a paperclip dangling from each side. This is your simple pulley.

Hang two washers on one of the paper clips. (Bend the paperclip slightly so that you can easily use it as a hook.) These washers are your "load". Let them fall to the table.

Step 4: One at a time, children begin hanging washers from another paperclip. Carefully place the washers on the paperclip without dropping them. These washers are the force of your "effort". How many washers will you hang on the paperclip until the load starts to lift off the table?

Step 5: Next you will build a compound pulley. Poke two more holes (one in each box) so you can insert a second pencil parallel to the first; they should be a few centimeters apart.

Step 6: Children cut a new piece of string about twice the length of the height of one box and tie one end of the string to the second pencil and drape the other end over the first pencil.

Step 7: Children hang a paper clip from the part of the string between the two pencils so that it hangs down between the two pencils. Hang two washers on this paperclip and let them fall to the ground. This will be your load.

Step 8: The children tie the free end of the string to another paperclip. This paperclip should be up off the ground and close to the pencil.

Step 9: If not, you may need to shorten your string, one at a time, to start hanging washers on the second paperclip. How many washers do you want to hang on the paperclip until the load starts to lift off the table?

Alpha Science Classroom. The Science of Load Reduction with Pulleys

Children should find that fewer washers are needed to lift an equivalent load using a compound pulley than a single pulley. For example, ideally, with a single pulley, you could lift two washers with two other washers. (In reality, there is some friction between the rope and the pencil that you have to overcome, so three or four washers may be needed. With a compound pulley, you can ideally lift two washers with just one washer. Again, there is some friction to overcome, so two or three washers may be needed. But remember, the reduction in force required is not "free"-you have to move the effort twice as far. alpha science classroom thinks that if kids measure the distance with a ruler, kids can now confirm this.

I believe that by reducing the load with the pulley, children have been able to use it to drive up several times the weight of physics, yes this is the power of science. alpha science classroom believes that this fun children's physical science experiment project has proven the magic of science for children to learn about it. Kids who want to learn more about fun kid's science experiment activities , join the alpha science classroom and explore more amazing mysteries of science!

Alpha science toys have also designed fun kids' physical science experiment kits to help kids explore the mysteries of science while delivering special science fun for kids to grow up as scientists with fun.