Simple Machines Scavenger Hunt
Caterpillar Visitors Center
Instructions: Work as a team, explore the galleries and record the simple machines you discover.

What does simple mean? Having few parts or features; not complicated or elaborate.
What is a machine? A machine is anything that uses energy to do work.
What is work? Science defines work as a force exerted over a distance.
What is a simple machine? A simple machine is any mechanical device that applies force andmakes work easier.
What is a compound machine? A compound machine is a machine that consists of more than onesimple machine.

BEGIN IN THE LOBBY

Look for the Ground
Engaging Tool (GET) Wall.
Discuss how and why thesetools are used. Do they solve aproblem? If so, what problem?
_________________________Can you find two simple machines in the lobby?
How about on one of the walls? Name them.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________MOVE TO THE 797F
MINING TRUCKWhich part of the Cat® 797F
Mining Truck is a verylarge inclined plane?
Hint: What lifts up to dump?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

When you return to your classroom, draw
a picture of the 797F Mining Truckin dump position.

MOVE TO THE
HERITAGE GALLERY

Find the Model Twenty Tractor. Name a
simple machine found on the front ofthe tractor.

Find the D8 Simulator in theHeritage Gallery. Name a
simple machine found onthe D8?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________MOVE TO THE PRODUCTDEVELOPMENT GALLERY

Find the joysticks in the Ergonomics area.
Discuss whether a joystick is a simple
machine or a compound machine made up
of two or more simple machines.
What did your group decide?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Compare the joysticks to thelevers on the D8 Simulator you
saw in the Heritage Gallery.
Name two differences.
Name two similarities.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________MOVE TO DESIGN YOUROWN MACHINE

Which machine did you
choose to design? Why?
______________________________________________Name the simple machines you find as
you’re designing a machine.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________MOVE TO THE
POWER SYSTEMS GALLERY

What other simple machines
can you find on the nut andbolt tractor? Hint: Consider
the bucket or the tracks.
Look for the track loader made of nuts andbolts. Are nuts and bolts simple machines?
If so, name them.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________MOVE TO THE POWER
SYSTEMS GALLERY

Find the Perkins® engine.
Can your team find two simple
machines and name them?
_________________________
Find the engine wall mural.
Have each team member point out asimple machine. Record the simple
machine each team member finds.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________MOVE TO THE
JOBSITE THEATER

BONUS QUESTIONSWhat types of jobs did you see
Cat equipment doing in themovie? Which job would you
like to do when you grow up?
Watch Cat Construction Rocks (video #2).
As a team, identify a lever, pulley, screw,
inclined plane, wheel & axle and wedge.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________MOVE TO THE
PRODUCT FLOOR___________________________

BONUS QUESTIONSWhat is the largest and smallest simple
machine you can find on the productfloor? Name them.

What is the largest and smallest
compound machine you can find on theproduct floor? Which is your favorite?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

VOCABULARY ACTIVITY
Instructions: Draw a line from the vocabulary word to the correct definition.

productivity

Any mechanical device that applies
force and makes work easier.

profitability

Something that has been or can beadded to an existing object orarrangement

profitadd-onhaving few parts or features; notcomplicated or elaborate
the effectiveness of productive
effort, especially in industry, as
measured in terms of the rate ofoutput per unit of input

simplethe special use or purpose towhich something is put

machineA machine that consists of morethan one simple machine

work

application

simple machinecompound machine

the money that a business has left
after paying all of its expenses
related to conducting businessactivities such as producing a
product to sell

anything that uses energy
to do workforce exerted over a distancethe ability of a business toearn a profit