How many classical simple machines are commonly listed?
AnswerSix
The six are the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge and screw.
Science · Facts & stats
Machine facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about machines, simple machines and engineering history, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
An axe blade is an example of which simple machine?
AnswerWedge
A wedge splits material by turning a downward force into a sideways one.
Going deeper
Which simple machine is an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder?
AnswerScrew
A screw's thread is an inclined plane wound in a spiral.
Who said "Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth" about the lever?
AnswerArchimedes
The line is attributed to Archimedes explaining the power of levers.
Which machine did Charles Babbage design as a general-purpose mechanical computer?
AnswerThe Analytical Engine
Babbage's Analytical Engine design anticipated modern computers.
Expert level
For an ideal lever, mechanical advantage equals what?
AnswerEffort arm length divided by load arm length
A longer effort arm relative to the load arm multiplies force.
In what year did Alan Turing describe the Turing machine?
Answer1936
Turing's 1936 paper "On Computable Numbers" introduced the idea.
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