Continue with Microsoft TeamsRead About Living with Machines
Vocabulary
Read the vocabulary terms to understand the reading better.
A lever can help move heavy objects such as heavy furniture or a large rock. When one side of a lever gets pushed down, the other side goes up. A seesaw is an example of a lever.
An inclined plane can help move heavy objects. A ramp is an example of an inclined plane.
A machine is a device that does a specific physical task. Machines need energy to work.
A mechanism is a part of a machine.
Simple machines make work easier and have few or no moving parts.
A wheelchair is a chair fitted with wheels to make moving easier.
Living with Machines
Simple machines and devices make life easier for people. Machines help us get around. They help us move large and heavy things.
Machines Make Life Better
There are many ways machines help us. Wheelchairs allow people with disabilities to get around. Wheelchairs roll easily because they have wheels and axles. People in wheelchairs cannot roll up stairs. But they can roll up inclined planes.
Simple machines and mechanisms make life more fun. Pianos use levers. When you press a key, a lever hits a string. This makes a sound.
People also use machines such as treadmills to be fit and healthy. Treadmills have inclined planes that can make exercising more difficult or easier.
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