The best physics lesson anyone could ask for is often available at the neighborhood elementary school. The best application for this knowledge is sometimes as close as the back yard.

Physics is really simple—literally—as in the six simple machines. You know: the lever, pulley, wedge, inclined plane, wheel and screw. We use these machines every day, constantly, as we go about our tasks of opening cans, climbing stairs, playing tennis or brushing our teeth. Rube Goldberg machines are the ultimate, fun examples of these simple machines.

Sure, I learned this in high school physics. But I really learned to apply the principles in my child’s 5th grade class. Yesterday I got a real-life refresher course.

The horrendous windstorm last October toppled a healthy, tall spruce. The tree was growing on a hillside. In an instant, a sizable hunk of the hill was floating in the air supported by an immense root mass. At least seven feet separated the thick, beautiful layer of moss from its life-sustaining earth. Perhaps more serious was the denuded hillside, ripe for ugly erosion at breakup.

Clearly, the tree could not be saved, perhaps not even the moss and wildflowers either. But the barren hillside had to be remedied.

Pulling the huge root mass back up the hill and into position called for all that I’d ever learned about the six simple machines and then some. Luckily a friend took on the challenge as a mental and very physical exercise. We spent the better part of a week building the lever system, hooking up cables, pulleys, ropes and ‘come-alongs.’ The experiment is captured in the few accompanying photos.

We are pleased with our efforts. Time will tell if the moss survives. Will it and the heavy tangle of roots and stump stay in place long enough to become stable again? Or will I find my effort at the bottom of the gully next spring?

One tip—should you wish to try this at home: rocks and soil will roll down the hill, as the tree breaks loose. Remove (but save) some of that material from the slide area, otherwise the root mass will not make good ground contact; it will ride on an undesirable central hump of displaced debris. Keep the moss wet like a sponge for the rest of the summer and plant some stabilizing bushes or trees around the edge. Don’t forget to those pictures.