Page 17 - FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFE; EXPLORING GOD’S UNIVERSE

Science Y6 – Forces and motion – lesson 9

We use levers and
ramps to move our
own bodies and to do
simple everyday jobs.

Experiment 1
Aim: To see how many children are needed to lift an adult.

Apparatus: Plank, brick or block for a fulcrum

Method: Let the adult stand on one end of the see-saw. Find out if you can move the plank so that only
one child is needed to balance the adult. Write what you have learnt about the position of the
fulcrum.

Result and conclusion: ______________________________________________________________________________

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Experiment 2
Aim: To find the best position for the load when the ground is the fulcrum.

Apparatus: Plank, load

Method: Place the load 20 cm from the end of the plank. Try to lift the load by lifting the plank from
one end then from the other. Which was easier?

Move the load along 20 cm at a time and record your observations on the force needed to raise
the load each time.

Result and conclusion: ______________________________________________________________________________
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Experiment 3
Aim: To explore the effect of lengthening a ramp to reduce the effort.

Apparatus: Three planks of wood, ½ metre long, 1 metre long and 1½ metres long, toy lorry,
bricks to put on the lorry, spring balance

Method: Place one end of each plank (ramp) in turn on a chair. Attach the spring balance to the front of
the lorry. Put the bricks into the back of the toy lorry. Find the length of plank requiring the least
effort to pull the lorry on to the chair. Ensure that your tests are fair. Record your results in

table form on the back or on a computer.

Result and conclusion: ______________________________________________________________________________

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