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Grade 4 · Science · Unit 6 of 9

Machines in Our Lives

Simple machines, their parts and their effects

What your child practises

Levers, wheels and axles, pulleys, gears, ramps and wedges, naming a mechanism's parts (such as the fulcrum), and comparing the effects of machines on daily life and the environment.

Ontario Curriculum expectation: D1.1, D1.2, D2.1, D2.2 · machines and their parts, and how machines affect people and the environment

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Mechanics, welders and electricians use machines and tools. These jobs are called…

    🧰
    • games
    • maps
    • seasons
    • skilled trades
    Show answer

    skilled trades

    Hint: Skilled trades use science and technology to solve real problems.

  2. Question 2

    A crowbar is a lever. Where is the fulcrum when you pry up a board?

    🔧
    • the nail
    • the point it rests on
    • the end you push
    • the board
    Show answer

    the point it rests on

    Hint: The fulcrum is the pivot point.

  3. Question 3

    Why is it easier to move a heavy box up a ramp than lift it?

    📦
    • a ramp removes gravity
    • a ramp uses magnets
    • a ramp makes the box lighter
    • a ramp lets you use less force over a longer path
    Show answer

    a ramp lets you use less force over a longer path

    Hint: You push for a longer distance with less force.

  4. Question 4

    Which simple machine is it? Tap an item, then tap its basket.

    Sort into: ⚖️ lever · 🛞 wheel and axle · 📐 inclined plane (ramp)

    • ⚖️seesaw
    • 🚚loading ramp
    • ♿wheelchair ramp
    • 🚪doorknob
    • 🔧crowbar
    • 🛹skateboard wheel
    Show answer

    ⚖️ lever: seesaw, crowbar · 🛞 wheel and axle: doorknob, skateboard wheel · 📐 inclined plane (ramp): loading ramp, wheelchair ramp

    Hint: A lever turns on a pivot. A wheel and axle spins. An inclined plane is a slope.

  5. Question 5

    A bike path and a car lane are different ways to travel. Which has less impact on the environment?

    🚲
    • riding a bike
    • riding a bus
    • driving a car
    • all are the same
    Show answer

    riding a bike

    Hint: A bike uses no fuel.

  6. Question 6

    The fulcrum of a lever is…

    ⚖️
    • the heaviest part
    • the load
    • the point it pivots on
    • the handle you push
    Show answer

    the point it pivots on

    Hint: The fulcrum is the turning point.

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