http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/cub_/lessons/cub_simple/cub_simple_lesson03.xmllessontext/xmlIntegrated Teaching and Learning Program, axledesigndistanceEgyptianengineeringforcelevermechanical advantageMesoamericanprocesspyramidquarrysimple machinetransporttransportationwheeldesigneistanceengineeringforcefulcrumlevermechanical advantage mesoamericaquarrysimple machinespeedtransportweightwheel and axlewonderwork

Students explore methods employing simple machines likely used in ancient pyramid building, as well as common modern-day material transportation. They learn about the wheel and axle as a means to transport materials from rock quarry to construction site. They also learn about different types and uses of a lever for purposes of transport. In an open-ended design activity, students choose from everyday materials to engineer a small-scale cart and lever system to convey pyramid-building materials.

The simple machines explored in this lesson — wheel and axle, and lever — are relevant to modern-day, real-world methods of material transportation. Just as ancient engineers used simple machines in the transportation of stone for pyramid building, today’s construction engineers continue to use simple machines to gain mechanical advantage in the transport of large and heavy materials. Think of all the big trucks that are used to transport materials. Some of these trucks have lifts — like garbage trucks — that work like levers to unload materials. Explain the evolution and re-engineered uses of the wheel and axle. Explain the evolution and re-engineered uses of a lever. Understand how a wheel can be described as a lever. Understand the many ways that engineers use the wheel and axle, and lever (as well as other simple machines) on a daily basis. 15TeachEngineering.orgLuz QuiñónezLawrence E. CarlsonJacquelyn F. SullivanMalinda Schaefer ZarskeGlen SirakavitDenise W. Carlson, with conceptual input from the students in the spring 2005 K-12 Engineering Outreach Corps course.http://www.teachengineering.org/collection/cub_/lessons/cub_simple/cub_simple_lesson03_presentation.ppthttp://www.swbochnacki.com/http://www.world-mysteries.com/mpl_2_1.htm#Machineshttp://www.dictionary.comhttp://nefertiti.iwebland.com/index.htmlhttp://nefertiti.iwebland.com/building/building_in_stone.htmhttp://anth507.tripod.com/pyramids.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/launch_gms_pyramid_builder.shtmlhttp://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/science/sciber00/8th/machines/sciber/machine7.htmS11417B7International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyD. The use of transportation allows people and goods to be moved from place to place. 35United StatesCopyright 2012 - Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulderhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2011-11-244Teacher