Wheels at Work: Building and Experimenting With Models of Machines (Boston Children's Museum Activity Book)

Instructions for using readily available materials to make models of machines such as pulleys, windlasses, and water wheels, with suggested experiments to demonstrate their capabilities.

Grade 5-9 Experiments using wheels as parts of simple machines fill this innovative book. Readers learn to build models of pulley systems, gear systems, water wheels, windmills, paddle wheels, and the windlass. A list of parts and simple, clear directions with clarifying illustrations for building each model are followed by questions and suggestions of ways to change the design or arrangement of a system to get different results. This is followed by a section that explains the physics of each model. Safety precautions are given in the few, very minor places in which they are needed. All materials are common household objects. Some are throwaways such as juice containers and milk cartons. Others, such as paper plates and cups, pulleys, and pipe cleaners, are easily purchased. Since most models have more than one easily adjusted variation, this book is great vacation-time fun for mechanically minded young people. An adult might need to help with hammering a hole in one model and puncturing holes (in soft materials) in others, giving parents and children an opportunity to explore simple physics together. An invaluable resource book. Margaret M. Hagel, Norfolk Public Library System, Va.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.