In this topic you will learn about how other simple machines make work easier.

A ramp is an example of an inclined plane. An inclined plane is a flat surface that is raised at one end. An inclined plane makes work easier. Going up a hill, you have two paths. The path that goes straight up is shorter. However, it takes more effort. The ramp is a longer distance, but it takes less effort.

A wedge is another simple machine. A wedge is made of two inclined planes placed back to back. A wedge uses force to raise an object up or split objects apart. The sideways force of a wedge splits wood apart. A plow is another example of a wedge. As the plow is dragged through the soil, it cuts through the ground. The soil is moved aside.

Another simple machine is a screw. A screw is an inclined plane wrapped into a spiral. The ridges of a screw are called threads. It takes less force to turn a screw than to pound a nail. That is because a screw is moving a longer distance. When you turn the head of a screw once, the spiral travels a long way. The longer the distance, the less force you need to do work.

You can make work easier by using a compound machine. You make a compound machine by putting two or more simple machines together. A pair of scissors is a compound machine. Part of the scissors is a lever. The other part is a wedge. A water faucet is a compound machine made of a wheel and axle and a screw.