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WorksheetYear 6Level 2 · Standard

Free Year 6 Simple Machines: Levers, Pulleys and Ramps Worksheet

Students learn how the six simple machines — lever, pulley, inclined plane (ramp), wheel and axle, wedge and screw — make work easier by changing the size or direction of a force. They identify the load, effort and fulcrum of a lever, balance a seesaw, compare lifting with using a ramp or pulley, and explain the trade-off between force and distance.

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Year
Year 6
Subject
Science
Topic
Forces & Motion
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
35 minutes
Curriculum
Australian Curriculum
Questions
14
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practise

  • naming the six simple machines and giving everyday examples
  • identifying the load, effort and fulcrum of a lever
  • using a balance rule to solve seesaw problems
  • explaining how ramps and pulleys reduce the force needed
  • explaining the trade-off between force and distance

Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Simple Machines: Levers, Pulleys and Ramps

  1. 1Electric Circuits
  2. 2Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources
  3. 3Energy Transformations in Everyday Devices

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

Year 6 students (typically ages 11–12) working on forces & motion. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 35 minutes for 14 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Electric Circuits.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 6 · Science · Forces & Motion

Simple Machines: Levers, Pulleys and Ramps

Name

Date

Score /

Simple machines make jobs easier, not lighter: less force over a longer distance.

Part A: The six simple machines

Read the passage, then answer the questions.

A simple machine is a device that makes a job easier by changing the size or the direction of a force. There are six simple machines: the lever, pulley, inclined plane (ramp), wheel and axle, wedge and screw.

A lever is a rigid bar that turns around a fixed point called the fulcrum (or pivot). The force you apply is the effort, and the object being moved is the load.

A pulley is a wheel with a rope around it. A fixed pulley changes the direction of the force. A movable pulley, attached to the load, halves the force needed.

1.Match each simple machine to an everyday example.
  • lever
  • pulley
  • inclined plane
  • wheel and axle
  • wedge
  • screw
  • a flagpole rope that raises a flag
  • an axe blade
  • a door knob
  • a seesaw
  • a jar lid
  • a wheelchair ramp
2.The fixed point that a lever turns around is called the (answer space).
3.In a wheelbarrow, where is the fulcrum?
  1. Athe handles
  2. Bthe wheel
  3. Cthe load in the tray
  4. Dthe person's hands
4.What does a single fixed pulley (like the one at the top of a flagpole) do?
  1. Ahalves the force needed
  2. Bchanges the direction of the force, so you pull down to lift up
  3. Cmakes the load lighter
  4. Dremoves friction

Part B: Calculating with simple machines

Show your working.

Balancing a lever: a lever balances when force × distance from the fulcrum is the same on both sides. A smaller force can balance a bigger one if it is further from the fulcrum.

Ramps: if we ignore friction, force × distance is the same whether you lift a load straight up or push it up a ramp. A longer ramp means less force, but more distance.

5.Mia weighs 400 N and sits 1.5 m from the middle of a seesaw. Her brother weighs 300 N. How far from the middle must he sit, on the other side, to balance the seesaw? (answer space)
6.Ignoring friction, lifting a 600 N box straight up 1 m needs a force of 600 N. How much force is needed to push it up a 3 m long ramp to the same height? (answer space)
7.A 400 N load hangs from a single movable pulley. Ignoring friction and the weight of the pulley, how much force is needed to lift it? (answer space)
8.Using the ramp, what do you have to do in exchange for using less force?
  1. Apush the box a longer distance
  2. Blift the box higher
  3. Cpush the box faster
  4. Duse a heavier box

Part C: True or false?

Write True or False.

9.Simple machines reduce the total amount of work (energy) needed to do a job. ☐ True   ☐ False
10.A longer spanner (wrench) makes it easier to turn a tight nut. ☐ True   ☐ False
11.A door is easier to push open near its hinges than near its handle. ☐ True   ☐ False
12.A screw is like an inclined plane wrapped around a rod. ☐ True   ☐ False
Free worksheets at worksheets.successtutoring.com · © Success Tutoring · Free for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring Science Team
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.