For 2026: Please note that units are considered "under revision" until two weeks before the class date, and page content, web assignments, and exercises may change before that deadline.

Unit 14: Simple Machines and Greek Engineering

Preparation

• History Web Lecture:

  The weblecture sends the student to several websites. Encourage them to start reading these early, because web readings take longer to get load and read than text. The first site discusses Archimedes' inventions, in particular, the screw pump which is still used today to drain fields throughout the Mediterranean area. The second site contains a work by the Greek inventor Hero of Alexandria; students do not read the whole thing but only need to look at the introduction to his life and one of the descriptions of his steam engine, although they should also look at the list of the inventions to get a feel for the other things that he created.

• Science Web Lecture:

  The science weblecture covers the basic types of machines and the modern definition of force. Students should be able to identify which simple machine is represented by different household tools.

• Homework:

  After some identification questions linking the Greek inventors with their inventions, the homework concentrates on identification of the basic types of forces and machines and their uses. Students can be as creative as they like in their invention of a simple can-crusher, but they should be able to explain what simple machines are included and how they work together to perform the "business" of crushing cans.

• Discussion:
  • What are the kinds of inventions that were made during the late Greek/early Roman periods? Why didn't these societies do more with this technology?
  • What common problems face all people who design cities? How did the Romans resolve these problems? How do we today?
  • What is the difference between a simple machine and a compound machine?

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