For what purpose are simple machines primarily designed?

Simple machines are primarily designed to reduce the effort needed to perform work. They accomplish this by allowing a person to apply a smaller force over a greater distance, or by changing the direction of the force applied. For example, a lever allows a user to lift a heavy weight with less input force than would be required if lifting it directly. The core function of all simple machines—such as levers, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges, screws, and wheels and axles—is to make tasks easier by minimizing the amount of force exerted by the user. This reduction in effort is crucial, particularly in scenarios where large forces must be moved or when practical limitations prevent the application of force directly.

The focus of simple machines on effort reduction is a foundational concept, emphasizing their utility in everyday tasks and engineering applications.