Oar

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/oar

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the historical impact?Enabled ancient maritime dominance, facilitating trade, warfare, and exploration across major waterways
2. What is an oar and how does it help a boat move?An oar is a long stick with a flat blade at one end that is attached to a pivot point on the boat. When you pull the short end, the blade pushes against the water and moves the boat forward.
3. How does the oar work like a lever?An oar works like a Class 2 lever. The pivot is the oarlock, the effort is where you pull, and the load is the water pushing back against the blade.

Fulcrum: The fixed point around which a lever pivots, in this case, the oarlock or thole.
Leverage: The mechanical advantage gained by using a lever to multiply force.
Maritime: Relating to the sea or seafaring.