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Everyday Machines / Week 04 / Tuesday
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Week 04 · The Faucet

Tuesday

A twist becomes a push
// A twist that stops the water
⏱ about 15 min

Tuesday: A Twist Becomes a Push

Rocket twists a jar lid round and round.

The lid creeps up a tiny bit with every turn.

"What do you notice about the lid?" Raven asks.

"It goes up when I twist!" says Rocket.

Nova hums. "A faucet stem does something like that."

The screw

A screw is a ramp wrapped around a post.

The ramp is called the thread.

When you turn a screw, it moves in a straight line.

A twist becomes a push or a pull.

The screw in the faucet

The faucet stem has screw threads.

The stem screws in and out of the faucet body.

Turn the handle one way. The stem goes down.

The rubber washer presses down and stops the water.

Turn the handle the other way. The stem rises.

Water flows out again.

TURN THE WATER OFF
  • Tap a card.
  • Then tap its spot.
1First
2Next
3Then
4Last
TWIST AND PUSH
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
What is a screw?
You twist the faucet handle. What does the stem do?
Which part presses down to stop the water?
Try it
Find a jar with a twist lid or a bottle cap.
Twist the lid slowly and watch its edge.
Does the lid move up or down as it turns?
Twist it the other way and watch again.
Safety first
A grown-up opens any lid that is stuck.
Use an empty, clean jar or bottle.
Small caps stay away from little brothers and sisters.
SentenceTrue or false?
A screw thread is a ramp wrapped around a post.?
Turning a screw makes it move in a straight line.?
The faucet stem has no threads.?
A twist can become a push.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEThe screw thread turns your twist into a push on the washer.
JAR LID TEST
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Rocket twisted the lid. What did it do?
Which one has screw threads?
Draw a screw. Show the ramp wrapped around the post.

You found the screw hiding in the faucet!

Tomorrow, we look at a faucet up close.

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