Make a button to take home using simple machines!
How it works
Simple machines help make tasks easier by reducing the amount of force needed to complete them. The button press is a lever, and when a downward force is applied, it can easily bend metal (which is very strong) into a diferent shape. Forces are a part of a science called physics, which studies how we use forces and energy every day.
Try this at home
- Where else have you used/seen a simple machine today?
- Next time you go to the park, count the number of simple machines you can find.
- Try making a pulley at home using string and spools! How does the number of spool affect the weight the pulley can support?
Definitions/glossary
- Physics: The discipline of science that studies the laws of matter and their interactions with energy.
- Force: A push or a pull. There are a lot of dierent types of forces, for example: friction, tension, normal forces, electromagnetic, etc.
Whats going on in Waterloo
At the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, scientists are looking for answers about our universe; from the very largest to the very smallest. Sometimes the simplest questions lead us to the most profound insights!
How to become a physicist
The first step to becoming a physics student is to graduate from high school with the required math, science, and english courses. After high school, you will attend a post-secondary program. Physics students at Waterloo explore, investigate, and discover the natural laws and processes of non-living matter.