What is a slider mechanism?
A mechanism is a set of moving parts that work together to make something happen.
A slider is a kind of mechanism that has a bar or rod that moves forwards and backwards, or side to side, within a guide.
You might find a slider mechanism as a latch on a gate, in a set of drawers in the kitchen or in a moving picturebook.
Video: What is a slider mechanism?
Join Emma-Louise in the workshop to find out what a slider mechanism is and where you can find them.
Hello! We’re going to take a look at some marvellous mechanisms.
A mechanism is a series of moving parts that work together to do a specific job.
You may have seen a lock like this on a gate or a door.
This lock works by using a slider mechanism. The bolt slides across and stops the door, or gate, from opening. A slider mechanism like this one is a mechanism that allows something to move in two directions.
Here, the snake can slide left to right. Let’s take a look at how this slider is made.
If I turn the snake around, you can see that it’s stuck onto a piece of card that I can use as a handle to slide it.
The larger piece of card has two slots cut into it, that work as a guide for our sliding snake. When we insert our snake into the guide, we can then slide it back and forth. The guide makes sure the motion is smooth and it keeps the part that slides, the snake, in position.
But a slider mechanism doesn’t just have to move left and right. You can make one that moves up and down as well.
When I turn this slider mechanism around, you can see the whale has a card handle here and the guide allows it to move up and down as it appears out of the sea.
Sliders appear in different things we use every day, like the lock. They are also sometimes used on music players to control the volume, drawers, curtains and windows that slide up and down.
So, keep an eye out for slider mechanisms around your home. Have a think about the direction they move in, and why they are used.
How do slider mechanisms work?
A slider mechanism is made up of a strong bar or rod supported by a guide.
The guide allows motion (movement) along a straight line.
A guide might be a rail, a slot, a bracket or a groove.
Examples of sliders
Sliders are used for many different purposes and can be found in many different places. Take a look at some examples below.
Image caption, Door latches
A slider can be used as a latch to keep a door closed.
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Find the slider
Can you find the slider mechanism hidden in these three pictures?
Key words
| Mechanism | A set of moving parts that work together to make something happen. |
| Motion | When something is moving or changing its position. When you run, ride your bike, or even when you wiggle your fingers, you're 'in motion'. |
| Rigid | When something is stiff and doesn't bend easily. |
| Slider | A rigid bar or rod, supported by a guide, that moves forwards and backwards along a straight line. |
Quiz
Test your knowledge and find out what you know about sliders.
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