New
New
Year 5

How gears can help us

I can describe how gears can make difficult work easier.

New
New
Year 5

How gears can help us

I can describe how gears can make difficult work easier.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Gears are simple mechanisms or machines which are useful for turning things.
  2. Gears are wheels with teeth that slot together and turn on an axle.
  3. Gears can change the direction of a force. When one gear is turned, the other gear turns in the opposite direction.
  4. Gears of different sizes working together can be used to change the size of a force and reduce the effort required.
  5. A smaller gear will turn rapidly with less force, whereas a larger gear will turn more slowly with a greater force.

Keywords

  • Gear - A gear is a simple machine which is useful for turning things.

  • Cogs - A cog is a toothed wheel, often used in gear systems.

  • Axle - An axle is a rod that goes through the centre of the wheel to help it move and stay in place.

  • Clockwise - To turn clockwise means to turn in the same direction as the hands of a clock move round.

  • Force - A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects move, slow down, change direction or change shape.

Common misconception

Gears only exist in bicycles and cars.

Explicit teaching of what gears are and where they are found.

Encourage children to notice how a gear is changing the original force. Does it change direction, effort or both?
Teacher tip

Equipment

See additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What effect do simple machines have?
they make it harder to perform tasks
Correct answer: they make it easier to perform tasks
some make it easier and some make it harder to perform tasks
Q2.
Both of these simple machines are useful for lifting things. Match the name to the description.
Correct Answer:lever,a rigid bar resting on a turning point called a pivot

a rigid bar resting on a turning point called a pivot

Correct Answer:pulley,a grooved wheel with a rope threaded through it

a grooved wheel with a rope threaded through it

Q3.
Which of these images show a lever ?
a cart wheel
a window blind
Correct answer: removing a lid using a screwdriver
Correct answer: a see-saw
Q4.
What is the name of the point along a lever around which it turns?
Correct Answer: pivot, fulcrum
Q5.
With this pulley, in which direction is the effort compared to the movement of the load?
An image in a quiz
same
Correct answer: opposite
it depends how you use it
Q6.
Which word is used to describe the force needed to move a load using a simple machine?
Correct Answer: effort, Effort, the effort
Q3 image 1 Wagon wheel" by drothamel is licensed under CC BY 2.0." https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

6 Questions

Q1.
Gears are simple mechanisms or machines which are useful for things.
An image in a quiz
lifting
lowering
Correct answer: turning
Q2.
What is the name of the rod that holds a gear in place?
An image in a quiz
load
pivot
stick
Correct answer: axle
axis
Q3.
What is the name for the bits which stick out on the edge of a cog?
An image in a quiz
ridges
wheels
Correct answer: teeth
zig-zags
Q4.
If you have two gears, in which direction does the second one turn compared to the first?
the same direction
Correct answer: the opposite direction
it depends how you turn it
Q5.
Gears can change the size of a force. They allow a smaller force to have a effect.
Correct Answer: greater, larger, bigger
Q6.
Match the size of the gears to the size of the force.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:small gear turning a larger gear,gear turns more slowly with a greater force.

gear turns more slowly with a greater force.

Correct Answer:larger gear turning a smaller gear,gear turns more rapidly with less force.

gear turns more rapidly with less force.

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