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The Six Simple Machines Explained

Tap a machine to see how it works.

Lever

A rigid bar that pivots around a fixed point (fulcrum), allowing a smaller force applied over a larger distance to move a larger load over a shorter distance β€” seesaws, crowbars, and scissors are all examples.

Wheel and Axle

A wheel attached to a smaller rod (axle) at its center, where turning the larger wheel with a relatively small force generates a much larger rotational force at the axle β€” used in doorknobs, steering wheels, and screwdrivers.

Pulley

A wheel with a grooved rim that a rope or cable runs over, used to redirect the direction of an applied force, and in multi-pulley systems, to reduce the amount of force needed to lift a heavy load.

Inclined Plane

A flat, sloped surface that reduces the force needed to raise an object to a certain height by spreading the work over a longer distance β€” ramps are the most common everyday example.

Wedge

Essentially two inclined planes joined back to back, used to split or cut materials apart by converting a force applied to its blunt end into a splitting force along its thin edges β€” axes and knives are common examples.

Screw

An inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder in a spiral, which converts rotational force into linear force, allowing a screw to be driven into material with far less direct force than would otherwise be required.

How simple machines make work easier β€” not less work overall

Simple machines don't reduce the total amount of work needed to move an object (in the physics sense of work), but they do allow that work to be done using less force applied over a greater distance, which is what makes physically demanding tasks feel more manageable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are modern complex machines just combinations of these six simple machines?

Largely, yes β€” most complex mechanical devices, from bicycles to car engines, are ultimately built from combinations of these six basic simple machines working together, even when the overall mechanism looks highly sophisticated.

Which simple machine provides the most mechanical advantage?

There is no single answer β€” the mechanical advantage of each type depends heavily on its specific design and dimensions (such as the length of a lever's arms or the steepness of an inclined plane), rather than any one machine type inherently offering more advantage than another.