Name one of the six classical simple machines.
Name a machine type from the traditional six-type list, not a tool made from several types. A ramp is accepted as an inclined plane; a wheel alone does not name the wheel-and-axle type.
The classical list contains lever, pulley, inclined plane, screw, wedge, and wheel and axle. It describes basic mechanisms, rather than every possible machine component.
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- Lever 25 · Familiar
- A lever is a bar that turns around a fulcrum.
- Pulley 25 · Familiar
- A pulley uses a wheel and flexible rope or cable to transmit force.
- Inclined plane 50 · Less common
- An inclined plane is a sloping surface used to raise a load.
Also accepted: Ramp
- Screw 75 · Uncommon
- A screw has a helical rib and is one of the classical six types.
- Wedge 75 · Uncommon
- A wedge tapers to a thin edge and can split or lift material.
- Wheel and axle 100 · Rare
- The wheel-and-axle type combines a wheel with a smaller shaft.
Also accepted: Wheel & axle · Wheel-and-axle
Checked exclusions
- Wheel: The classical type is wheel and axle; a wheel alone is not the complete type name.
- Piston: Piston is not one of the six types in the cited classical list.
Sources for this question
- Simple machine
Complete traditional six-type list and definitions, including ramps and the wheel-and-axle mechanism.
Encyclopaedia Britannica · Checked 2026-11-04
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