Unit D Lesson D10
Completion requirements
Lesson D10: Machines and Society
Video Lesson
Prosthetics are machines that replace missing body parts. Watch this video to learn more about how prosthetics change people’s lives.
Lesson D10: Machines and Society
Figure D.3.10.1 – A wheelchair ramp is a simple machine that provides easier access to buildings.
Figure D.3.10.2 – Hydraulic systems lower and lift bus ramps.
Figure D.3.10.3 – Pneumatic systems make it easier to get through doors.
Reading and Materials
for This Lesson
Science in Action 8
Reading: Page 308
Materials:
No additional materials needed for this lesson.
Machines for Disabilities
People with disabilities often experience physical limitations with their bodies. Machines help disabled people do everyday physical tasks more easily.
For example, some disabled people cannot easily walk up stairs. Inclined planes allow these people to walk upwards gradually, without lifting their feet. Ramps are also helpful for people in wheelchairs. By law, all public buildings must be accessible with permanent ramps. Other inclined planes are movable, like hydraulic bus access ramps.
Some other machines that help physically disabled people are wheelchairs and automatic doors. Wheelchairs use the wheel and axle simple machine to move people who can’t walk. Pneumatic systems control automatic doors. Pressing an automatic door button causes a pressurized gas to apply force to the door.
Machines improve life for people with disabilities. Machines allow disabled people to independently access public spaces, so they can participate in school, at work, and in their communities. Being able to connect with others helps people be happier and healthier, despite any physical limitations they might have.
People with disabilities often experience physical limitations with their bodies. Machines help disabled people do everyday physical tasks more easily.
For example, some disabled people cannot easily walk up stairs. Inclined planes allow these people to walk upwards gradually, without lifting their feet. Ramps are also helpful for people in wheelchairs. By law, all public buildings must be accessible with permanent ramps. Other inclined planes are movable, like hydraulic bus access ramps.
Some other machines that help physically disabled people are wheelchairs and automatic doors. Wheelchairs use the wheel and axle simple machine to move people who can’t walk. Pneumatic systems control automatic doors. Pressing an automatic door button causes a pressurized gas to apply force to the door.
Machines improve life for people with disabilities. Machines allow disabled people to independently access public spaces, so they can participate in school, at work, and in their communities. Being able to connect with others helps people be happier and healthier, despite any physical limitations they might have.
Watch More
Overcoming Disabilities With Machines
This video shows new wheelchair technology that allows people to control their motion simply by looking in the direction they want to go.
Sometimes animals become disabled. Can you imagine a goat in a wheelchair? Watch this video to see a story about animal prosthetics.
Prosthetic legs are made in a factory. Watch this video to learn more.
Figure D.3.10.4 – Washing clothes by hand is a difficult, time-consuming task.
Figure D.3.10.5 – Washing machines make washing clothes easier.
Figure D.3.10.6 – Robots will make household chores even easier in the future.
Household Machines
Today, people in developed countries have access to many machines that make daily household tasks easier. In the past, household chores were difficult and time-consuming. For example, doing laundry used to require heating water and scrubbing clothes by hand on a washboard. Cleaning carpets used to require hanging them up and beating out the dirt with a stick.
Modern washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and dishwashers reduce the time and effort people spend on household chores. Spending less time on household chores allows people to spend more time doing leisure activities or learning new things. Access to modern household machines can still free up time and improve life for many people around the world.
Clocks
Today, people in developed countries have access to many machines that make daily household tasks easier. In the past, household chores were difficult and time-consuming. For example, doing laundry used to require heating water and scrubbing clothes by hand on a washboard. Cleaning carpets used to require hanging them up and beating out the dirt with a stick.
Modern washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and dishwashers reduce the time and effort people spend on household chores. Spending less time on household chores allows people to spend more time doing leisure activities or learning new things. Access to modern household machines can still free up time and improve life for many people around the world.
Clocks
Figure D.3.10.7 – Railway transportation schedules rely on clocks.
Clocks are devices that allow people to describe and divide up time during a day. The first clocks were very simple. Sundials created shadows to tell the time of day. Water clocks told time with slowly dripping water.
The first mechanical clocks were invented in Europe during the Middle Ages. Pendulum clocks and portable pocket watches were invented by the 1600’s. Mechanical clocks contain a series of gears that slowly turn the clock’s hands. Today, most people use electronic clocks that do not have mechanical moving parts.
Clocks changed the way that people view time. Before the invention of accurate clocks, people had less strict schedules. Today, our modern world runs on strict time schedules. For example, we use time to communicate what time work or school starts. Airplane, bus, and train schedules are planned by the clock. Time is measured precisely during scientific experiments.
What other ways do people rely on clocks?
The first mechanical clocks were invented in Europe during the Middle Ages. Pendulum clocks and portable pocket watches were invented by the 1600’s. Mechanical clocks contain a series of gears that slowly turn the clock’s hands. Today, most people use electronic clocks that do not have mechanical moving parts.
Clocks changed the way that people view time. Before the invention of accurate clocks, people had less strict schedules. Today, our modern world runs on strict time schedules. For example, we use time to communicate what time work or school starts. Airplane, bus, and train schedules are planned by the clock. Time is measured precisely during scientific experiments.
What other ways do people rely on clocks?
Figure D.3.10.8 – Modern smart watches are run by electronics instead of mechanical parts.
Figure D.3.10.9 – Mechanical wristwatches contain tiny gears.
Watch More
Timekeeping Machines
This video explains different types of clocks used during history.
This video explains different types of clocks used during history.
Pendulum clocks are a complex machine. This video explains how pendulum clocks work.
Measuring time with machines changed society. Clocks have contributed to many technology advancements, but they have also changed the way that humans behave. Watch this video to learn more.
Clocks and trains resulted in the invention of time zones, which we still use today. Watch this video to learn why time zones were invented.
Figure D.3.10.10 – High speed trains travel faster than 250 km/h.
Figure D.3.10.11 – Some countries in Europe and Asia have high speed train lines.
Figure D.3.10.12 – It would take just over one hour to travel between Edmonton and Calgary on a high speed train.
High Speed Trains
Passenger trains are a popular method of long distance travel in Europe and parts of Asia. In the 1960’s, high speed trains were developed in Japan. These machines can travel at speeds higher than 250 kilometers per hour. Some high speed trains can even reach speeds of 500 kilometers per hour!
Albertans have considered building a high speed rail line between Calgary and Edmonton. There would be several benefits to having a high speed train in Alberta. It would take just over one hour to travel between the two cities by high speed rail, instead of three hours by car. A high speed rail line would reduce the number of drivers on the busy highway between Calgary and Edmonton, reducing the risk of vehicle collisions. A high speed rail line would be just as fast as flying by airplane, but would not burn fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
On the other hand, a high speed rail line would take billions of dollars to build. Recent studies have shown that not enough Albertans would ride the train to make the rail line worth the cost. Many people still like to have the convenience of their own car.
Passenger trains are a popular method of long distance travel in Europe and parts of Asia. In the 1960’s, high speed trains were developed in Japan. These machines can travel at speeds higher than 250 kilometers per hour. Some high speed trains can even reach speeds of 500 kilometers per hour!
Albertans have considered building a high speed rail line between Calgary and Edmonton. There would be several benefits to having a high speed train in Alberta. It would take just over one hour to travel between the two cities by high speed rail, instead of three hours by car. A high speed rail line would reduce the number of drivers on the busy highway between Calgary and Edmonton, reducing the risk of vehicle collisions. A high speed rail line would be just as fast as flying by airplane, but would not burn fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
On the other hand, a high speed rail line would take billions of dollars to build. Recent studies have shown that not enough Albertans would ride the train to make the rail line worth the cost. Many people still like to have the convenience of their own car.
Make sure you have understood everything in this lesson. Use the Self-Check below, and the Self-Check & Lesson Review Tips to guide your learning.
Unit D Lesson 10 Self-Check
Instructions
Complete the following 6 steps.
Don't skip steps – if you do them in order, you will confirm your
understanding of this lesson and create a study bank for the future.
- DOWNLOAD the self-check quiz by clicking here.
- ANSWER all the questions on the downloaded quiz in the spaces provided. Think carefully before typing your answers. Review this lesson if you need to. Save your quiz when you are done.
- COMPARE your answers with the suggested "Self-Check Quiz Answers" below. WAIT! You didn't skip step 2, did you? It's very important to carefully write out your own answers before checking the suggested answers.
-
REVISE your quiz answers if you need to. If you answered all the questions correctly, you can skip this step. Revise means to change, fix, and add extra notes if you need to. This quiz is NOT FOR MARKS, so it is perfectly OK to correct
any mistakes you made. This will make your self-check quiz an excellent study tool you can use later.
- SAVE your quiz to a folder on your computer, or to your Private Files. That way you will know where it is for later studying.
- CHECK with your teacher if you need to. If after completing all these steps you are still not sure about the questions or your answers, you should ask for more feedback from your teacher. To do this, post in the Course Questions Forum, or send your teacher an email. In either case, attach your completed quiz and ask; "Can you look at this quiz and give me some feedback please?" They will be happy to help you!
Be a Self-Check
Superhero!
Self-Check Quiz Answers
Click each of the suggested answers below, and carefully compare your answers to the suggested answers.
If you have not done the quiz yet – STOP – and go back to step 1 above. Do not look at the answers without first trying the questions.
One way that driverless vehicles could change society is that they will change people’s jobs. People who drive for a job, like bus drivers and truck drivers, will be out of work or will have to find different jobs.
Using a carbonation machine for pop creates less waste. Since the machine puts carbon dioxide bubbles into a reusable container, there is no trash generated from metal or plastic cans and bottles. Cans and bottles can be recycled, but it takes
a lot of energy to make and recycle the plastic or metal. If this energy comes from burning fossil fuels, the carbon dioxide produced contributes to climate change.
Some possible positive effects of the electric bicycle include:
- More people will start bicycling and getting more exercise, because it is easier to bicycle in situations that require more effort.
- If the batteries on electric bicycles are charged with renewable energy sources, it is better for the environment than gasoline cars.
- More people will bicycle on roads with cars, which can be unsafe if it is not planned for properly.
- Governments might need to develop new bike paths in urban areas, which costs a lot of money.
People don’t need to go shopping as often, because refrigerators keep food fresh for longer. Refrigerators also allow food to be transported over longer distances. Shipping food in refrigerators means we can ship food from warmer places and
eat fresh food year round, even when it’s out of season in Canada.
Fridges have the negative environmental impact of using a lot of energy. Fossil fuels are often burned to create the electricity that powers fridges. Burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change.
Fridges have the negative environmental impact of using a lot of energy. Fossil fuels are often burned to create the electricity that powers fridges. Burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change.
Airplanes allow families and friends to live far away from each other but still visit each other often. Airplanes allow people around the world to meet for business reasons. Airplanes fly products like food and mail quickly around the world.