The wheel an axle is a simple machine. It consists of a wheel that turns an axle, or an axle that turns a wheel. It is also a lever that turns in circles around a point or fulcrum. The load on the axle is more easily moved because of mechanical advantage. The wheel and axle can be considered to be a lever in which the radius of the wheel is the effort arm and the radius of the axle represents the resistance arm. It also is a single forced machine. By changing the short distance of lifting, the force is less because the work always stays the same.