STEM-Maker

Curriculum

Wheel & Axle

Turn Any Space Into a STEM Lab

Simple Machines
A STEM-Maker Level 1 Lesson for System Fluency

Educational Objectives
After this lesson, students should be able to understand and apply the
following concepts:

Basic elements of wheel and axle

Measure radius, diameter, and circumference

of a circle

Calculate mechanical advantage

Construct a model of a wheel and axle

Conduct an authentic assessment of

mathematical predictions and calculations

Intrinsic value of wheel and axle

and the ability to transfer that
knowledge to future applications
and solutions

Education Standards
Next Generation Science Standards Common Core Standards Standards for Technological Literacy
3-5-ETS1-1 MS-ETS1-1 HS-ETS1-1 W.5.7 RST.6-8.1 WHST.6-8.9 2.K-2 2.3-5 2.6-8 2.9-12
3-5-ETS1-2 MS-ETS1-2 HS-ETS1-2 W.5.9 RST.6-8.7 RST.11-12.7 8.K-2 8.3-5 8.6-8 8.9-12
3-5-ETS1-3 MS-ETS1-3 HS-ETS1-3 MP.2 RST.11-12.8 RST.11-12.9 9.K-2 9.3-5 9.6-8 9.9-12
MS-ETS1-4 HS-ETS1-4 MP.4 MP.5 SL.8.5 10.K-2 10.3-5 10.6-8 10.9-12
Welcome
From basic STEM literacies to 3D solid modeling, Rokenbok STEM-MAKER curriculum was created
to help you teach technology, engineering, and design in almost any setting. Rokenbok’s STEM-
Maker Curriculum guides fun and engaging hands-on project based challenges, and models the
progression of fluencies mastered by real designers and engineers. Lesson plans are categorized
in three progressive levels for grades 3-12 and align with NGSS and common core state standards.
Progression through these levels builds confidence, a sense of accomplishment setting the
groundwork for a love of learning, creating, and making.

System Fluency Creative Fluency Engineering Fluency

Step-by-step, single-solution Realistic design briefs A more advanced design brief
projects introduce Rokenbok challenge the student to challenges students to design
materials and how the solve a problem based on the and build custom parts to
system works. skills learned in Level 1. Students complete a project. Students
add their own design creativity use the 3D Virtual Parts
to solve a problem using the Library and 3D solid modeling
Rokenbok system. software to adapt and create
their own parts
and tools.

Table of Contents
Level 1 Simple Machines: The Wheel & Axle
Introduction
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1
Key Terms .............................................................................................................................. 1
Additional Resources .............................................................................................................. 1
Building Basics with Rokenbok ................................................................................................. 2
Technology and Engineering
Building a Wheel and Axle ........................................................................................................ 3-4
Science Concepts
What is a Wheel and Axle? ....................................................................................................... 5
Wheel and Axle Examples ........................................................................................................ 5
Math Concepts
Calculating Mechanical Advantage ........................................................................................... 6
STEM Challenges
Building with Wheel and Axle ....................................................................................................... 7
Assessment
What Have We Learned? ......................................................................................................... 8
Introduction
Introduction
This Level 1 project is designed to introduce your students to one of the six simple machines,
the wheel and axle. Students will learn how wheels and axles work by making their own
wheel and axle system, applying the mathematics behind a wheel and axle, as well as
learning key terms related to the subject matter.

Key Terms
Simple Machine: A device that transmits or modifies force or motion.
Effort: Force used to move an object over a distance.
Resistance/Mass: Force to overcome, object to be moved, otherwise known as load.
Diameter: A straight line passing from side to side through the center
of a circle.
Circumference: The enclosing boundary of a curved geometric figure, especially
a circle.
Mechanical Advantage: The advantage gained by the use of a mechanism in
transmitting force

Additional Resources
http://iqa.evergreenps.org/science/phy_science/ma.html
http://science.howstuffworks.com/wheel-and-axle-info.htm
http://www.mikids.com/SMachinesWheels.htm

1
Building Basics with Rokenbok
You will be using the Rokenbok Education ROK Ed Rover or SnapStack Module for this
project.

Snapping:
Rokenbok building components snap
together for a snug fit. It is easier to snap
pieces together by angling the beam into
the block.

Snapping
Bracing:
Use braces to strengthen any
Rokenbok build. Girders, 2-way
braces, 3-way braces, and corbels are all
commonly used for this purpose.

Bracing
Disassemble:
Always use the Rokenbok key tool when
taking apart pieces. Insert the tab on the
key into the engineered slot on each piece
and twist slightly. This will protect your
fingers and minimize broken pieces.
Disassemble

Take Inventory:
It is recommended to take inventory of all components at the end of each build and
a complete check at the end of the school year. Replacement pieces can be found
online at Rokenbok.com/Education.

Component Care:
All building components should be cleaned regularly with a mild detergent
and water.

2
Technology & Engineering
Building a Wheel & Axle
Follow the step-by-step instructions to build a wheel and axle assembly.

Bill of Materials Makes one wheel and axle assembly.

7x 2x 4x

2x 4x

1 Build the Wheel and

Spoke Assembly

2 Build the Axle Assembly

3
Technology & Engineering
3 Final Wheel and Axle
Assembly

4
Science Concepts
What is a Wheel and Axle?
Heavy loads are hard to move by simply pushing
Gravity (resistance)
or pulling on them because there are forces that
must be overcome in order for them to move.

One force is gravity, which is the attraction Load

Effort
between the earth and other objects.
Friction
This attraction causes the second force known as (resistance)
friction, which means that the resistance of the Surface Area
object, as it comes in contact with a surface, must
be overcome before it will move. Gravity (resistance)

The wheel and axle can be used to help move Wheel and Axle
heavy objects because the surface area of the Load
Effort
wheel is less than the surface area of the load
and this makes it easier to overcome the forces of Friction
gravity and friction. (resistance)

Surface Area
Wheel and Axle Examples
Here are a few of the examples of how the wheel
and axle is used in common applications.

Chariot Wheel Bicycle Wheel Car Wheel

Wheel Barrow Steering Wheel Gears

5
Math Concepts
Calculating Attributes of the Wheel and Axle
The benefit of the wheel and axle is based on a scientific concept called mechanical advantage. By
using a simple machine, we can make hard work easier and this makes it possible to build things that
we don’t have the power to do with just our hands and muscles. Complex machines, like forklifts and
cranes, are many simple machines working together to accomplish a task that would not be possible
without the mechanical advantage that they provide.

Formula: Diameter Circumference

The distance from one edge of a wheel to the opposite edge through
the center is called the diameter.
Radius of Wheel
equals 3.5”
Formula: Radius
The diameter is twice the distance of the radius.

Diameter of Wheel
Formula: Circumference equals 7”
The distance around the outside edge of the wheel is called
circumference. To determine the circumference of a wheel,
we use the following mathematical formula: x=2πr.
Circumference
The term pi is a mathematical constant that represents the ratio of
a circles circumference to its diameter which is approximately 3.14. c = 2πr or c = πd
The symbol for pi is π.
Diameter - the distance from one side of
So to figure the circumference of our circle, we would use the a circle to the other through the center
following formula: c = 2 x 3.14 (pi) x 3.5 (radius) which means that
the circumference of our wheel is 21.98” Radius - the distance from the center of a
circle to the edge of the circle
The diameter can also be used to determine the circumference of our
wheel. This formula is: c = πd. Circumference - the distance around the
outside edge of a circle
Using this formula, we see that the circumference is the same as
when the radius formula was used.

c = 3.14 (pi) x 7 (diameter) which means that the

circumference of our wheel is still 21.98”. Radius of Wheel
equals 3.5”
Formula: Mechanical Advantage
We can use mathematical formulas and measurements to help
determine the mechanical advantage of a machine, including the Radius of Axle
wheel and axle. Use the formula and given measurements shown to equals .375”
find the mechanical advantage of your wheel and axle.

Mechanical Advantage
MA = r(wheel)/r(axle)
6
STEM Challenges
What Can You Design?
These STEM Design and Engineering Challenges are designed to introduce you to the wheel and
axle and how it can be used to make work easier for many different tasks. Try out one of the STEM
Design and Engineering Challenges below or design your own project using the wheel and axle.

Building a Measuring Wheel

This STEM Challenge is designed to use the wheel and axle that you have built and
turn it into a cool measurement tool.

Another application of the wheel and axle simple machine is for measurement over
larger distances.

Use additional Rokenbok building components to add an extension arm

onto your wheel and axle as shown. Attach a corbel onto your wheel
edge and use that as a marker for measuring distance.

Since you know the circumference of your wheel,

you should be able to use your measuring wheel
to measure the distance around your
classroom or down your hallway.

Other Uses for the Wheel and Axle

The wheel and axle is a very useful simple machine. Not only can the
mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle be useful in moving heavy
loads, it can also be used in many other ways. Some of these include:

Transfer of motion from one direction to another

direction
Intermittent motion Gears

Gears, sprockets, and cranks

7
 Assessment
What Have We Learned?
1. The force used to move an object over a distance is known as what?
a. load
b. resistance
c. effort
d. gravity

2. The wheel and axle can be used to help move heavy objects because the __________ of
the wheel is less than the __________ of the load and this makes it easier to overcome the
forces of gravity and friction.
a. weight
b. surface area
c. circumference
d. radius

3. Use the information below to determine the mechnical

advantage of the wheel and axle.
a. MA = 2 Mechanical Advantage Radius of Wheel
b. MA = 4 MA = r(wheel)/r(axle) equals 4”

c. MA = 8 MA = ______
d. MA = 20 Radius of Axle
equals .5”

4. Which of the following examples is not a wheel and axle?

a. pulley
b. wedge
c. gear train
d. crank shaft

5. What is the circumference of this circle? Circumference

a. MA = 12.56”
Radius of Wheel
b. MA = 16.42” Circumference equals 2”
c = 2πr or c = πd
c. MA = 8”
d. MA = 24.72” Diameter of Wheel
equals 4”

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