Simple machines are not restricted to the nonliving world. Here are two resources that highlight the importance of levers to humans. You may be able to find other activities that explore similar concepts in other living things like the jumping legs of frogs or the jaws of a predator.
This site provides creative materials to introduce physics to students and their teachers. Learn about the science behind a homerun, and find out how the physics of balance helps enthusiasts surf the waves. There are interviews, enticing images, and enthralling descriptions. Hands Up! integrates physics and biology in a physicist's first-person account of a tense rock climbing experience and is sure to keep students' attention. Students will recognize the various simple machines in the human body and their role in rock climbing. MSP
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In this activity, students learn the science concepts related to levers and then relate the concepts to levers in the human body. It includes comprehensive support materials for both teachers and students. If you want students to discover (as opposed to telling them) the surprising aspect of 3rd class levers as compared to the first two, then we recommend giving them the first two pages of the student background information after completing the activity.
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Copyright
June 2007 — The Ohio State University. This material is based upon work
supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0424671. Any
opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of
the National Science Foundation.
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This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons License.
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