Simple machines make work easier, not less work, says Rick Crosslin, scientist. He joined us today to demonstrate how simple machines work. In our case, Randy was the “load” and Amber was the “effort.

When you push or pull with a simple machine, you are applying a force and doing work. And, if you get more force out of a machine than you put into it, then that machine has a mechanical advantage.

When I was a kid, I sat glued to the television watching behind the scenes shows on the workings of industrial plants. I couldn’t get enough of watching a series of machines work in tandem to convert ...