Wheels That Don't Roll

Think about a doorknob. The knob is a wheel. You use your hand to turn it. The axle is connected to the knob. It runs through the door. You use force to turn the knob. The knob then turns the axle. The axle moves the latch in and out.

axle

wheel

All of these objects use a wheel and axle.

axle

wheel

axle

wheel

Wheels and Axles Can Be Fun

What about a Ferris wheel? It’s just a large wheel and axle. Its motor supplies the force to turn the axle. The axle makes a small circle. It travels a short distance.

The cars at the outer edge of the wheel make a bigger circle. They move a longer distance. The big circle lets the riders climb high into the sky. What a view!

A Ferris wheel is a HUGE wheel and axle!