Introduction to the Wheel and Axle

Long, long ago in a busy town, there was a young inventor named Max. Max liked to invent new machines to make life easier. One sunny afternoon, walking around in the town square, he noticed people were struggling to carry heavy baskets, pull carts, and even transport large stones. Max wondered, “What if I can invent something that makes it easier for people to move heavy things?

Finally, after careful thought, he had the idea that maybe it could be in the very simplest, yet mastermind, idea of the wheel and axle

Labeled Diagram:

Here is a simple diagram to show how the wheel and axle work:

[Diagram Description]

Wheel: A round, rotating part which reduces friction.

Axle: A shaft in the middle which holds the wheel and allows it to turn around.

Force Applied: The force that you push or pull on the wheel to get it turning, thus making it easier to travel.

Direction of Movement: The rotation of the wheel allows the object to travel in the direction you push or pull.

What is a Wheel and Axle?

Max proceeded to go to his garage and began sketching. He remembered that wheels had been around thousands of years ago, being utilized to provide means of transport for products on carts, chariots, and even cars today.

A wheel is a circular form turning about a center, and an axle is a rod through the center of the wheel enabling it to turn freely.

Max used this diagram to demonstrate:

The Basic Principle

Max understood that a wheel and axle combined make things move more conveniently. The wheel turns, making it easier for something to travel on the ground. The axle is what holds the wheel onto the machine, and it causes the wheel to turn.

He thought, If I make the axle stronger and the wheel large enough, I can push heavy loads easily!

Max’s First Experiment

Max tested his idea. He utilized a little wheel and a wooden axle. He mounted it on a cart to see if pushing would be easier or not. When he did push the cart, he noticed that it was easier to push than before. It was much easier to push by far!

Content with his victory, Max realized that the larger the wheel, the less effort it would take to get something moving.

The Physics of the Wheel and Axle

Max sat down and attempted to grasp why the wheel and axle were so successful. He remembered something he had learned at school: friction.

Friction is the force that opposes moving things. Without the wheel, friction between the ground and the bottom of the cart made it very hard to push. But with the rotating wheel, it reduced the friction and made it easier to push the cart.

Max smiled. The wheel and axle make work easier by a simple law of science.

How the Wheel and Axle Help People

Max thought about all the ways that his invention would help people. He knew that wagons, carts, and even bicycles all relied on wheels and axles. These things allowed people to go farther and carry heavier loads.

He thought about the older, weary merchants in town. They had to pull their heavy carts up monster hills. Max wanted to make a special, wide-wheeled cart for them.

 Improving the Design

Max took a few days building a new cart with bigger wheels and a sturdier axle. He tested it out by piling bags of grain onto the cart and hauling the cart up the hill. It worked great!

The large wheels made It very easy to haul the cart up the hill, and the axle enabled the wheels to roll easily without getting flattened.

The Power of Simple Machines

Max realized that the wheel and axle was a simple machine, i.e., machines that make work easier by changing the direction or magnitude of the applied force. There were simple machines including pulleys, levers, and inclined planes.

He made a diagram to demonstrate all the simple machines and how they worked: