WHAT IS A WHEELBARROW?
Wheelbarrows are compound machines. It consists of 3 simple machines. They are lever, wheel and axle, and inclined plane. A wheelbarrow is a small hand-propelled vehicle, usually with just one wheel, designed to be pushed and guided by a single person using two handles to the rear or a sail may be used to guide the ancient wheelbarrow by wind.
WHY A WHEELBARROW CONSISTS OF 3 SIMPLE MACHINES:
Wheelbarrows use more than one simple machine to reduce the effort needed to do a job, making them compound machines. Adding extra simple machines spreads the effort and force required to do the job and allow the tool to do more than one job.
LEVERS:
As a lever, wheelbarrows lift heavy loads while minimizing the effort required. Levers consist of resistance arms, effort arms and a fulcrum. In class 2 levers, like the wheelbarrow, the resistance arm is in the middle between the fulcrum and the effort arm. The wheelbarrow's effort arms are the handles that the person uses to lift up the heavy load in the barrow. The barrow and its heavy load are the resistance arm that push down. The wheel is the fulcrum that allows the wheel barrow to pivot up and down.
As a lever, wheelbarrows lift heavy loads while minimizing the effort required. Levers consist of resistance arms, effort arms and a fulcrum. In class 2 levers, like the wheelbarrow, the resistance arm is in the middle between the fulcrum and the effort arm. The wheelbarrow's effort arms are the handles that the person uses to lift up the heavy load in the barrow. The barrow and its heavy load are the resistance arm that push down. The wheel is the fulcrum that allows the wheel barrow to pivot up and down.
WHEEL AND AXEL:
Wheelbarrows have a wheel at the fulcrum with a smaller, cylindrical axle at the centre. The wheelbarrow's wheel and axle help it move without friction, making it easier to push and pull. As with all wheel and axle assemblies, the wheelbarrow's wheel and axle have a size ratio that corresponds to the amount of force applied to the axle and distance that the wheel covers. For example, the wheel's radius may be 10 times larger than that of the axle. When force is applied to the wheelbarrow's axle (by pushing the wheelbarrow), the axle does 10 times more work but travels one-tenth of the distance. When the wheel turns, it covers 10 times more ground than the axle would if it were traveling on the ground. The wheel, however, only requires one-tenth of the effort applied to it.
Wheelbarrows have a wheel at the fulcrum with a smaller, cylindrical axle at the centre. The wheelbarrow's wheel and axle help it move without friction, making it easier to push and pull. As with all wheel and axle assemblies, the wheelbarrow's wheel and axle have a size ratio that corresponds to the amount of force applied to the axle and distance that the wheel covers. For example, the wheel's radius may be 10 times larger than that of the axle. When force is applied to the wheelbarrow's axle (by pushing the wheelbarrow), the axle does 10 times more work but travels one-tenth of the distance. When the wheel turns, it covers 10 times more ground than the axle would if it were traveling on the ground. The wheel, however, only requires one-tenth of the effort applied to it.
INCLINED PLANE:
Only when a wheelbarrow is tipped ahead or on it's side is it considered to consist of an inclined plane. Wheelbarrow's use of an incline plane works best when it is being pushed forward and then tipped downward allowing the user to slide material from the wheelbarrow downward onto the ground.
Only when a wheelbarrow is tipped ahead or on it's side is it considered to consist of an inclined plane. Wheelbarrow's use of an incline plane works best when it is being pushed forward and then tipped downward allowing the user to slide material from the wheelbarrow downward onto the ground.
COMMON USES FOR A WHEELBARROW:
Wheelbarrows are designed to distribute the weight of its load between the wheel and the operator so enabling the convenient movement of heavier and bulkier loads than would be possible were the weight carried entirely by the operator.
Some common uses for a wheelbarrow include:
Construction:
Construction:
Masonry and concrete workers frequently use metal wheelbarrows to mix concrete and mortar. While these professionals may use concrete trucks and cement mixers for large batches of concrete, many residential repair jobs only require a small amount of concrete to be mixed. A masonry workers pours concrete into the bowl of the wheelbarrow and then sprays water into the concrete powder. Then he uses a shovel to mix the water and concrete, taking care to spray off any unused concrete out of the wheelbarrow when the mixture begins to harden. Other construction workers and handymen use wheelbarrows to transport small amounts of construction materials by hand. If a small amount of debris or construction waste must be cleaned up or the job site does not feature heavy equipment, wheelbarrows are used by construction workers to dispose of debris and waste.
Landscaping:
Landscapers visibly alter the natural environment of a piece of property. Professional landscapers may use big trucks to transport mulch and gravel, but they may use a wheelbarrow in order to transport materials from a large pile to their desired area. Residential landscapers use wheelbarrows to transport smaller trees and shrubs for planting and carry fertilizer to shrubs and trees.
Landscapers visibly alter the natural environment of a piece of property. Professional landscapers may use big trucks to transport mulch and gravel, but they may use a wheelbarrow in order to transport materials from a large pile to their desired area. Residential landscapers use wheelbarrows to transport smaller trees and shrubs for planting and carry fertilizer to shrubs and trees.
Gardening:
Gardeners use wheelbarrows to reduce the strain on their backs when moving large bags of top soil and compost. When planting a large garden, plant trays fit inside the basin of the wheelbarrow, requiring fewer trips to move plants to a garden. Wheelbarrows are also useful for weeding, as a wheelbarrow can be moved through the rows of a garden and weeds can be loaded up and dumped in another location. Another modern use of wheelbarrows is for loading and transporting sticks that are lying around the yard, so that your lawnmower blade does not become chipped. Some gardeners even use old wheelbarrows as permanent containers for plants, although the bottoms eventually rust out.
Gardeners use wheelbarrows to reduce the strain on their backs when moving large bags of top soil and compost. When planting a large garden, plant trays fit inside the basin of the wheelbarrow, requiring fewer trips to move plants to a garden. Wheelbarrows are also useful for weeding, as a wheelbarrow can be moved through the rows of a garden and weeds can be loaded up and dumped in another location. Another modern use of wheelbarrows is for loading and transporting sticks that are lying around the yard, so that your lawnmower blade does not become chipped. Some gardeners even use old wheelbarrows as permanent containers for plants, although the bottoms eventually rust out.
SECRET AGENT PIXTON COMIC CREATION ACTIVITY:
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Are you ready to have fun? Are you ready for a challenge? If so, then head over to pixton.com and get started on our next activity. In this activity we will ask all agents to create a full page comic that discusses how a wheelbarrow is a compound machine.
Don't forget, this comic has to be funny while at the same time explaining how levers, wheel & axels, and inclined planes work together to make a wheelbarrow. Be creative! |
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Wheelbarrows carry more goods from place to place using less force than a person could carry them. In fact, a person would have to make several trips to carry the items by hand. With the help of the wheelbarrow's two simple machines---the lever and the wheel and axle---people can save time during the process of hauling.
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SECRET AGENT IN-TRAINING DIGITAL PORTFOLIO WHEELBARROW ACTIVITY:
As part of your ongoing mission training all agents are now asked to proceed to the 'Secret Agent Blog' and post a mission log entry titled "Why Wheelbarrows Are Considered Compound Machines". In your post please explain what simple machines make up this compound machine and include at least three common uses of wheelbarrows. Finally, you are then asked to read the mission log entries of all your other class agents and from there post 1 comment on another agents post adding to their original idea. Remember, comments are constructive and used to help other agents in the field gain more knowledge on the topic they are posting on.
BEFORE YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE?
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Before you attempt your next level of knowledge it is important that you are prepared to do so.
Just as special agent Jack Youngblood said "Good luck is a residue of preparation” and so you want to make sure before you move to your next level of training you can answer the following questions: |
1. What is a compound machine?
2. What 3 simple machines comprise a wheelbarrow?
3. What are some common uses for a wheelbarrow?
4. How does the 3 simple machines work to make the wheelbarrow?
2. What 3 simple machines comprise a wheelbarrow?
3. What are some common uses for a wheelbarrow?
4. How does the 3 simple machines work to make the wheelbarrow?
HIDDEN LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE:
In order to gain access to each level of knowledge in this mission you must first gain access to the hidden mission page links. To do that you must click on the link below: