Atwood's machine is the name of a device that looks like this: Also known as "two masses on a pulley". Surprisingly, this simple device comes up a lot in intro physics texts. It also brings up some ...

Explains how pulleys work to lift heavy weights more easily. A fixed pulley changes the direction of force, allowing for easier lifting, while a movable pulley reduces the amount of force needed to ...

A simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force. In general, they can be defined as the simplest mechanisms that use mechanical advantage (also called ...

Simple machines make work easier to do. But how? Join Joan at the Discovery Center of Idaho as she tries various experiments with simple machines. Science Trek is available to stream on pbs.org and ...

When you push or pull with a simple machine, you are applying a force and doing work. And, if you get more force out of a machine than you put into it, then that machine has a mechanical advantage.