Lesson 3.4: Egyptian Machines

What kinds of machines did the Egyptians use to build the pyramids?  Because they did not have any engines, they had to use simple machines such as those you studied in this unit. 

Read the Find Out Activity on page 144 in your textbook.  Do the Internet Connect Activity. Then, answer the following.

Question 1. What simple machines did the Egyptians use to construct the pyramids?

Question 2. A great deal of information was recorded in the hieroglyphics of the pyramids.  Why do you think no mention was made of how the pyramids were constructed?
                                

Then, return here to continue this lesson.

 

 

It is time to review the concepts covered so far.  Answer the Check Your Understanding questions 1 to 5 on page 144 of the textbook. 

Then, return here to continue this lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. What simple machines did the Egyptians use to construct the pyramids?

The simple machines mentioned in the Internet Connect Activity were

ramps, levers, wedges, rollers, mallets, pulleys.

The blocks of stone were not as massive as you might think.  The average weight was only 2.5 tonnes. As few as 10 men could pull the block up a ramp assisted by rollers and friction-reducing lubricants such as water.

Question 2. A great deal of information was recorded in the hieroglyphics of the pyramids.  Why do you think was no mention made of how the pyramids were constructed?

The pyramids were tombs of kings.  They likely did not want any information told about how they were made so that thieves would not be able to use that information to rob the tombs.  As it turned out, the pyramids were robbed of most of their treasure anyway.

 

Click to return to where you left off in this lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Check Your Understanding

1.  A fixed pulley is attached to a fixed support of some kind.  A moveable pulley is attached to the load and moves with the load.

2.  A fixed pulley changes the direction of the effort.  It is often easier to pull down on the rope because you can use your body weight as well as your muscles.  A moveable pulley makes work easier by reducing the effort required to do the work although the effort has to be exerted over a greater distance.

3.   a.  wheel and axle
 b.  pulley
 c.  wheel and axle
 d.  lever
 e.  wheel and axle

4.  The fat-handled screwdriver would be best because it has a larger "wheel", which means you can exert more force on the screw.

5.  Steering wheel:  The large wheel is used to exert a large force on the small axle.
Wrench:   A long handle on the wrench is used to exert a large force on a small nut and bolt.
Winch:  A long handle on the winch is used to exert a large force on the roller and the rope.
Many other answers are possible, such as bicycle pedals, doorknobs, water faucet taps, or anything that multiplies the force using a wheel and axle.


Now, do Assignment 7C.  Page forward to access computer-scored assignments.