Mechanisms That Make Things Move · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Turn one movement into another

Design & Technology · Designing & Making · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A cam turns and its follower rod rises and falls. What decides the rod's movement?

    • The colour of the cam
    • The name of the maker
    • The shape of the cam

  2. What does a mechanism do?

    • It burns fuel to make heat
    • One movement becomes another
    • It paints parts a new colour

  3. A linkage can reverse the direction of a movement.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A pop-up card rises when the card opens. What should you name first?

    • The price of the card
    • The mechanism inside and what it converts
    • The shop that sold the card

  5. You want a puppet arm to wave. Which input suits the job?

    • A turning crank
    • A single fixed screw
    • A flat painted panel

  6. Two followers ride the same cam, one on a tall lobe and one on a low lobe. Which rides higher?

    • The one on the low lobe
    • Both ride at equal height
    • The one on the tall lobe

  7. Tom says his wind-up toy's crank IS the whole mechanism. What is wrong?

    • A crank alone converts nothing without the parts it drives
    • Cranks are banned from moving toys
    • Wind-up toys contain no mechanisms

  8. Nora's toy bird must peck down when she pushes a slider forward. Which setup works?

    • A linkage that flips forward push into downward peck
    • A solid glued joint from slider to beak
    • A heavier battery in the base
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Turn one movement into another W1-mt_i6Je5hnxJz-s1

  1. The shape of the cam · The cam's changing shape lifts and drops the rod.
  2. One movement becomes another · Every mechanism converts an input movement to an output.
  3. True · Joined bars can flip a push into a pull.
  4. The mechanism inside and what it converts · Name the part, then the input and output movements.
  5. A turning crank · Turning suits a waving output, so the crank fits.
  6. The one on the tall lobe · Taller cam shape pushes its follower further up.
  7. A crank alone converts nothing without the parts it drives · Name what goes in and out of the full chain, not one part.
  8. A linkage that flips forward push into downward peck · Only the linkage converts and redirects the movement.
Worksheet · LightMySky