* 1. (2) wood dowels or cardboard tubes
* 2. (2) large books
* 1. (1) piece of rope
* 1. (1) small bucket or cup
* 1. (1) toy car or other object that can be tied to the cup
* 1. (1) pair of scissors
Instructions:
1. Gather your materials.
2. Place the books on a flat surface, about 12 inches apart.
3. Center the dowels or cardboard tubes on top of the books, spacing them about 6 inches apart.
4. Tie one end of the rope around the center of one dowel or cardboard tube.
5. Tie the other end of the rope around the center of the other dowel or cardboard tube.
6. Tie the toy car or other object to the cup.
7. Adjust the position of the books and dowels or cardboard tubes so that the rope is taut and the cup is suspended in the air between them.
8. Pull the cup toward one of the dowels or cardboard tubes. The toy car or other object will move along the rope in the opposite direction.
Extension:
* Experiment with different objects and weights.
* Create a system of multiple pulleys.
* Use a pulley system to lift a heavier object, such as a water jug.
* Learn about the history of pulleys and their uses in everyday life.