Home > Science Experiments > Simple Machines - Experiment 1 - Wheel and Axle: How can changing the size of the wheel affect the amount of work it takes to lift a load?

1. Printable Version
2. Download PDF
3. Cite this Page
4. Tweet This

Experiment 1
Wheel and Axle: How can changing the size of the wheel affect the amount of work it takes to lift a load?

Purpose/Hypothesis

A wheel and axle can be used to do work using less force. In a wheel and axle, both parts move together. In this experiment you will construct

a wheel and axle that also incorporates the pulley. You will join two spools together, one the wheel and the other the axle. The axle will hold a load and you will apply force to the wheel. Washers will be the load and also apply the force. This experiment will use three wheels of different diameters. By changing the diameter of the wheel, you will find out how the relationship in size between the wheel and the axle determines how easy it is to lift the load.

Before you begin, make an educated guess about the outcome of this...

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass

1. Introduction
2. Incline at work
3. Pulley power
4. Lever lifts
5. Experiment 1 - Wheel and Axle: How can changing the size of the wheel affect the amount of work it takes to lift a load?
6. Experiment 2 - Lever Lifting: How does the distance from the fulcrum affect work?
7. Design Your Own Experiment