Year 5 Science Levers, pulleys and gears: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Read section 10.1.

1. Read the definition. A lever turns about a fixed point, the pivot.
   fixed point
2. Name it. The word is pivot.
   pivot
3. Write the answer.
   pivot

Check. The pivot is also called the fulcrum. ✓

Method. Read the row for 20 cm.

1. Read the row. The 20 cm row needs 3 weights.
   3 weights
2. Write the number. So the answer is 3.
   3
3. Write the answer.
   3

Check. A longer effort arm needs fewer weights. ✓

Method. Read the movable pulley row.

1. Read the row. The movable pulley row shows 4 weights.
   4
2. Write the number. So the answer is 4.
   4
3. Write the answer.
   4

Check. The movable pulley halves the load. ✓

Method. Compare the rows with no pulley.

1. Compare the rows. The fixed pulley row shows 8 weights, the same as no pulley.
   8
2. Name it. So the fixed pulley is the same as no pulley.
   a fixed pulley
3. Write the answer.
   a fixed pulley

Check. A fixed pulley only changes the direction. ✓

Method. Read section 10.2.

1. Read the bullet. The effort needed is about half the load.
   half
2. Fill the gap. So the missing word is half.
   half
3. Write the answer.
   half

Check. The load is shared between two parts of the rope. ✓

Method. Read the large gear row.

1. Read the row. The large gear has 20 teeth.
   20
2. Write the number. So the answer is 20.
   20
3. Write the answer.
   20

Check. The large gear has twice the teeth of the small gear. ✓

Method. Divide the large gear teeth by the small gear teeth.

1. Read the teeth. The large gear has 20 teeth, and the small gear has 10.
   20 and 10
2. Divide. The small gear turns 20 divided by 10, which is 2 times.
   2
3. Write the answer.
   2

Check. The large gear turns once while the small gear turns twice. ✓

Method. Think about how many turns each one makes.

1. Think about the turns. The large gear makes one turn while the small gear makes two.
   one turn
2. Choose the gear. So the large gear turns more slowly.
   large gear
3. Write the answer.
   large gear

Check. More teeth means a slower turn. ✓

Method. Read the table in section 10.4.

1. Read the row. The wheelbarrow row says lever.
   lever
2. Name the mechanism. So the mechanism is a lever.
   lever
3. Write the answer.
   lever

Check. A wheelbarrow works like a lever. ✓

Method. Think about which mechanism shares the load.

1. Think about the rope. A movable pulley shares the load between two parts of the rope.
   two parts
2. Name the mechanism. So the mechanism is a pulley.
   pulley
3. Write the answer.
   pulley

Check. A movable pulley halves the effort. ✓

Method. Read section 10.1.

1. Read the definition. A lever turns about a fixed point, the pivot.
   fixed point
2. Name it. The word is pivot.
   pivot
3. Write the answer.
   pivot

Check. The pivot is also called the fulcrum. ✓

Method. Read section 10.2.

1. Read the definition. A pulley is a wheel with a groove, which a rope runs over.
   a wheel
2. Name it. The word is pulley.
   pulley
3. Write the answer.
   pulley

Check. Pulleys are used to lift loads. ✓

Method. Read section 10.2.

1. Read the bullet. A fixed pulley changes only the direction of the pull.
   changes the direction
2. Choose the word. So the answer is fixed.
   fixed
3. Write the answer.
   fixed

Check. A fixed pulley is fixed to a support. ✓

Method. Read the small gear row.

1. Read the row. The small gear has 10 teeth.
   10
2. Write the number. So the answer is 10.
   10
3. Write the answer.
   10

Check. The large gear has 20 teeth. ✓

Method. Read the row for 30 cm.

1. Read the row. The 30 cm row needs 2 weights.
   2 weights
2. Write the number. So the answer is 2.
   2
3. Write the answer.
   2

Check. A longer effort arm needs fewer weights. ✓

Method. Subtract the movable pulley number from the no pulley number.

1. Read the numbers. No pulley needs 8 weights, and a movable pulley needs 4.
   8 and 4
2. Subtract. The difference is 8 minus 4, which is 4 weights.
   8 - 4 = 4
3. Write the answer.
   4

Check. Check: 4 + 4 = 8. ✓

Method. Divide the large gear teeth by the small gear teeth.

1. Read the teeth. The large gear has 20 teeth, and the small gear has 10.
   20 and 10
2. Divide. 20 divided by 10 is 2, so the small gear turns twice.
   2
3. Write the answer.
   2

Check. The large gear turns once while the small gear turns twice. ✓

Method. Think about the rope.

1. Think about the rope. The rope is in two parts, holding the load.
   two parts
2. Write the reason. So each part carries about half the load, and the effort is about half.
   about half
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any sentence that says the load is shared between two parts of the rope, so the effort needed is about half.

Check. Sharing the load halves the effort. ✓

Method. Look at the lever table.

1. Look at the table. The longer the effort arm, the fewer weights are needed.
   fewer weights
2. Give the reason. So a longer arm makes the effort smaller, not bigger.
   smaller
3. Write the answer.
   no. Accept any sentence that says a longer effort arm makes the effort smaller, so a lighter push lifts the load.

Check. The table shows the pattern. ✓

Method. Think about the teeth.

1. Think about the teeth. The large gear has 20 teeth, and the small gear has 10.
   20 and 10
2. Write the reason. So each tooth of the small gear moves the large gear only part of a turn.
   part of a turn
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any sentence that says the large gear has more teeth, so one turn of the small gear moves it only part of the way round.

Check. More teeth means a slower turn. ✓