IMO Practice Test — Simple Machines
6 Questions • 12 min • Olympiad level
12:00
Question 1 of 6
hard
A flagpole rope, a see-saw and a ramp are everyday examples of a pulley, a lever and an…
Inclined plane
Engine
Battery
Computer
Explanation: These three are a pulley, a lever and an inclined plane.
Question 2 of 6
hard
A road that winds gently up a steep hill instead of going straight up is using the idea of an…
Lever
Pulley
Inclined plane
Wheel
Explanation: A winding road is a long, gentle inclined plane.
Question 3 of 6
hard
On a see-saw, a lighter child can balance a heavier one by sitting…
On the ground
Closer to the fulcrum
On the heavier side
Farther from the fulcrum
Explanation: Sitting farther out increases the lighter child's turning effect.
Question 4 of 6
hard
A screw is really an inclined plane wrapped around a…
Rope
Wheel
Rod (cylinder)
Ball
Explanation: A screw is a slope wound around a rod.
Question 5 of 6
hard
A flag is raised to the top of a tall pole easily using a pulley because the pulley lets us…
Make the pole shorter
Pull down while the flag goes up
Remove gravity
Heat the rope
Explanation: The pulley changes our downward pull into an upward lift.
Question 6 of 6
hard
Long ago, people moved huge stones to build with the help of simple machines like…
Ramps and levers
Computers
Engines
Phones
Explanation: Ancient builders used ramps (inclined planes) and levers.