Find science information on all the mechanics topics that Science Alive covers. This includes education classes, resources we hire, exhibit examples, interesting mechanics facts, fun activities, experiments, useful links and general mechanics information.
Mechanics education classes: See our education section for more
Simple machines - Years 1-3
What are the everyday machines that we have around us? In this fun-filled session children explore how simple machines can be used to make our lives easier.
Key Concepts: pulleys, levers, wheels, wedges and gears.
Hot Wheels - Years 3-6
Fast ones, thin ones, chunky ones, wheels are all around us! Work to a design brief to build a motorised vehicle from LEGO Technic.Be challenged at our testing stations and modify as necessary.
Key Concepts: wheels in everyday life, wheels for different purposes, gears and pulleys as modified wheels, the role of modification as part of the design process.
Mechanisms in Action - Years 5-8
Students investigate how gears, levers and pulleys work and use them to make various LEGO mechanisms to solve challenges.
Key Concepts: different types of simple machines, how machines harness forces to make our lives easier.
Wheels, Pulleys and Cogs (early childhood)
Recognise that we use wheels every day to do lots of different tasks. Experiment with different wheel shapes and look at how wheels help us to move things much more easily. A particular favourite in this programme is using the pulley system on our sit-on crane.
Mechanics exhibit examples: See our exhibitions page for more
Gear Table - Line up the gears and see how gear ratios work.
Square Wheels - An engine with square wheels moves along a set of tracks.
Crane - Visitors can lift objects and swing the crane arm about. Visitors can experience the principle that governs levers and pulleys.
Crazy Clock - A spinning double armed pendulum swings erratically and unpredictably. The pendulums receive their energy when they are spun. The energy is transferred to the outer pendulums which spin independently.
Cut Away Gearbox - Simple cut away gear box shows how a gear shift changes the mechanical drive advantage.
Mechanics kits and equipment:See our resources section for more
Pulleys Kit.
Interactive Mechanics game:
Learn about friction and the effect it has on vehicles as they travel over different surfaces in this fun interactive game.
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