Shovel fact file

You are going to dig, maybe to plant a flower or vegetables, but you use your hands and realise that it takes you a long time, and you need something to make the job easier. A shovel is fit for this job.

The handles of shovels are usually fastened in place. A T-piece is fitted to the end of the handle for the person who is using it to be able to grip it and control where the shovel is moving soil or heavy materials.  There are many different types of shovels including a coal shovel and a snow shovel.  A coal shovel has a wide, flat blade with steeply sides, a flat face and a short D-shaped handle. It is used for shovelling coals, coke or similar fuels. It could also remove ash from a fireplace, firebox or a furnace. A snow shovel has a very wide blade that curves upwards attached to a long handle. It is used for shovelling snow. There are different names for a snow shovel including snow scoops and sleigh  shovels.

Some kind of garden tools are levers. One example is a shovel. When you use a shovel you hold one end steady to act as fulcrum, and you use your other hand to pull up on a load of dirt. The second hand is the effort force, and the dirt being picked up is the resistance force. The effort applied by your second hand lies between the resistance force and the fulcrum.

To use a shovel you have to keep your feet apart. Place your front foot close to the shovel. Put weight on your foot, use your leg to push the shovel. Shift the weight to your back foot, keep the load close to your body. Turn your feet to the direction you’re going to throw the load away.

A shovel is a machine because it helps people in a lot of different ways, like helping them to plant things, helping them to lift objects and a lot of other things. Shovels are not just useful for one thing, if you are creative enough you can use them for many different things. It is also easy to use.