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Build a wheel and axle

Build a wheel and axle
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Build a simple wheel and axle using cardboard, wooden dowels, and tape. Test and measure how different wheel sizes change movement and friction.

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Step-by-step guide to build a simple wheel and axle

What you need
Adult supervision required, cardboard, cup or round lid, marker, ruler, scissors, stopwatch or timer, tape, wooden dowel

Step 1

Gather all your materials on a clear table so you can see everything.

Step 2

Choose three different wheel sizes and draw two matching circles of each size on the cardboard using the cup or lid and marker.

Step 3

Cut out all six cardboard wheels carefully with scissors.

Step 4

Use the ruler and marker to mark the exact center of each cardboard wheel.

Step 5

Make a hole in the center of each wheel that is just big enough for the wooden dowel to pass through so the wheel can spin.

Step 6

Cut the wooden dowel to about 25 centimeters to make a test axle.

Step 7

Cut two small cardboard rings or short strips to act as spacers on the axle.

Step 8

Assemble one pair of matching wheels on the axle with a spacer between each wheel and tape the dowel ends so the wheels cannot slide off but can still spin.

Step 9

Lay a long flat piece of cardboard as a straight test track and use the ruler to mark a start line and a finish line one meter apart.

Step 10

Place your assembled wheel-and-axle at the start line and give it a gentle push while starting the timer.

Step 11

Stop the timer when the wheel-and-axle stops moving.

Step 12

Write down the time and which wheel size you tested on a piece of paper.

Step 13

Replace the wheels on the axle with the next size and repeat Steps 8 to 12 for each remaining wheel size to collect more times.

Step 14

Compare the times you wrote down to see which wheel size rolled fastest and think about how wheel size changed movement and friction.

Step 15

Share your finished wheel-and-axle creation and your test results on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use if we can't find a wooden dowel?

If you don't have a wooden dowel, use a sturdy pencil or bamboo skewer as the axle and make the center holes in Step 5 the same diameter so the substitute fits snugly.

The wheels won't spin after I tape them on—what should I check?

If wheels don't spin freely after assembly in Step 8, gently widen the center holes from Step 5 and make sure the cardboard spacers you cut in Step 7 hold the wheels away from the tape-wrapped dowel ends so the tape doesn't rub.

How can I change the activity for different ages?

For younger children (3–5) have an adult complete Steps 2–6 and let them assemble, push, and time in Steps 8–12, while older kids (10+) can precisely cut the dowel in Step 6, run multiple timed trials in Steps 11–12, and analyze results.

How can we make the experiment more advanced or personal?

To extend the experiment, tape small coins inside different cardboard wheels before Step 8 to compare how added weight affects the times recorded in Steps 11–12, or tilt the cardboard track from Step 9 and then share your findings on DIY.org as in Step 13.

Watch videos on how to build a simple wheel and axle

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Simple Machines - The Wheel & Axle | Science | Grade 3 & 4 | TutWay

4 Videos

Facts about simple machines and friction

🛞 Bigger wheels travel farther per turn: a wheel twice as wide goes twice the distance in one rotation.

🧪 Friction isn’t just about roughness — weight, wheel material, and the floor surface all change how fast things move.

📦 Rolled cardboard can be very strong — a tight tube of cardboard can make a sturdy DIY wheel or hub.

🔩 The wheel and axle is one of the six classical simple machines — people have used it for thousands of years to make work easier!

📏 Use the formula circumference = π × diameter to predict how far your wheel will roll in one spin.

How do I build a simple wheel and axle with cardboard and wooden dowels?

To build a simple wheel and axle, trace and cut two cardboard circles for each wheel (vary sizes to test). Make a centered hole in each wheel slightly larger than a wooden dowel so the axle rotates freely. Slide a dowel through both wheels, add bottle-cap or straw spacers to keep wheels from rubbing, and tape or glue spacers to hold position. Test by pushing on a flat surface, measuring distance/time. Repeat with different wheel sizes and note how size affects roll and friction.

What materials do I need to make a cardboard wheel and axle for testing different wheel sizes?

You'll need sturdy cardboard (cereal boxes work), a few wooden dowels (one per axle), tape (masking or duct), scissors and a craft knife (adult use), a pencil and ruler or compass to draw circles, a hole punch or awl, bottle caps or short straws for spacers, markers for labeling, and a ruler and stopwatch to measure tests. Optional: glue, sandpaper to smooth dowel, and different materials (foam, plastic lids) for wheel experiments.

What ages is this wheel-and-axle building activity suitable for?

This activity suits ages about 6–12. Ages 6–8 can cut pre-drawn circles and assemble with close adult supervision for any sharp tools; focus on building and simple rolling tests. Ages 9–12 can design multiple wheel sizes, run controlled experiments, record measurements, and discuss friction and mechanical advantage. Younger than 6 may enjoy watching or helping with safe tasks, but hands-on cutting and small parts pose choking and tool hazards without adult help.

What are the benefits of building a wheel and axle, and what safety tips or variations should I try?

Benefits: building a wheel-and-axle teaches physics (simple machines, rotation, friction), measurement, hypothesis testing, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. It encourages curiosity and math practice when measuring distance and time. Safety tips: supervise cuts and drilling, use child-safe scissors, keep small parts away from toddlers, wear eye protection if drilling, and secure the workspace. Variation ideas: test different wheel materials (cardboard vs plastic), add tread using tape, com
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