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Levers and the Seesaw

Balance a ruler on a pencil and discover the rule for how weight and distance work together.

Grade 6ExperimentScienceEngineeringPhysicsMachinesMeasurementIntermediate40 to 60 min5 materials

What you'll learn

  • Identify the pivot (fulcrum), load and effort of a lever
  • Measure distances from the pivot
  • Discover that weight times distance must match on both sides to balance

Objective

Find the balance rule for a lever by testing different weights at different distances from the pivot.

STEM concepts

LeversBalanceTurning effect (torque)Simple machines
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Step-by-step instructions
Prediction, test sheet and results
Why does it work, challenge and project report

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