YOU CAN BE A MAKER Do you know what it means to be a maker Makers dream up new ways to do tasks or solve problems They find new ways to reuse everyday items and try new and exciting experiments Do you think up creative ideas you can’t wait to try If so this book is for you The following projects will inspire your creativity from creating a boat to finding new ways to finish chores Teamwork Makers often team up to share their skills and supplies Working in a group also leads to more ideas and points of view This sparks creativity Makerspaces are places where makers work together Some communities have makerspaces in places such as schools or local libraries You could also set up your own makerspace and invite some friends to join you 4
A new way of learning There is no right or wrong way to make something Makers know that 3 The only limit is your imagination 3 Every idea or question even ones that seem silly could lead to something amazing 3 Each team member adds value to a project 3 Things do not always go as planned This is part of being a maker Challenges help us think creatively 5
What is a wedge What do scissors airplane wings and needles have in common They use wedges A wedge is like an inclined plane Both have a sloped side with one raised end Unlike an inclined plane a wedge needs a force to lift stop or split an object There are single wedges and double wedges Double wedges are two wedges joined together with their sloped sides facing out SIMPLE MACHINES A wedge is a simple machine Simple machines are tools with few or no moving parts We use them to change the amount or direction of a force Force is the effort needed to push or pull on an object A small amount of force on the wide end of a wedge delivers a larger sideways force at the pointed end HELP WITH WORK We call the use of force to move an object from one place to another work Wedges make work easier faster or safer in many ways They often split apart or lift objects Wedges can also stop objects from moving The airplane’s wedge-shaped wing helps lift it in the air The wing’s larger rounded edge divides air evenly over the top and bottom of the wing The pointed end allows the air to rejoin smoothly 6
An ax is a double wedge Applying a downward force to the wide end of the ax transfers to a sideways force as the pointed edge splits the wood wedges IN ACTION Unlike ramps wedges only work when force is put on them Pushing a wedge under a door stops the door from closing for example Pushing down on the handle applies force to the wide end of the ax This force transfers to the sharp pointed edge that splits the wood 7
