Simple Machines Around the Home

When I think simple machines, I think more along the lines of non-traditional items that would be found somewhere other than at a home.  There are so many simple machines at someone's home that we don't even think about it. When I was taking pictures, I kept finding different things that would be considered a simple machine.

This is a picture of a can opener that acts like a lever.

The clock on the wall in the kitchen acts as a wheel and axel.

This lid on the jar acts as a screw.  I never thought something so little as this could be a simple machine.  

The knife and fork pictured here are called wedges in the simple machine world.

My nieces play gym in our backyard is an example of a simple machine.  The slide serves as an inclined plane. 

These are just some of the simple machines I found around my home. What can you find around your home?

Recycle-Reuse-Reduce

 Recycle

We recycle at our house by saving the plastics, glass, and styrofoam for the curbside pickup.  You wouldn't believe how much of the things you use around your house daily can be recycled. 

Also, my mom saves all of the paper things to put in a separate basket to take to the schools to dump in their large recycle bins to help them earn money. 





Reuse

To reuse around our house, we use the recycled bags when we go grocery shopping at HEB instead of using the plastic bags each time.   








Once in  a while, we will refill water bottles.  If we don't refill them
though, they will end up in the recycling bin.







Reduce

You can't tell very well from this picture, but during the day when no one is home, my mom keeps the air conditioner turned up very high so that it is not cooling the empty house.  During this time of the year, however, it really isn't that bad because we can open some windows and catch a nice breeze once in a while. 

 In most of the lamps and light fixtures throughout our house we have the energy efficient light bulbs.  Personally, I don't really notice a difference in them from regular light bulbs.  This is something simple that everyone can do to help reduce around their home.