Wheelbarrows, Greek philosophy, ergonomics

Answer to what simple machines make up a wheelbarrow: the lever and the wheel and axle (according to ehow, anyway).

Wheelbarrows carry more goods from place to place using less force than a person could carry them. In fact, a person would have to make several trips to carry the items by hand. With the help of the wheelbarrow's two simple machines---the lever and the wheel and axle---people can save time during the process of hauling.

I think there might be more to mention in the way of ergonomics, and in traditional details that create more functionality than is at first apparent.

All over the internet is "wheelbarrows were invented by the Chinese," but I don't think it's valid. Their "wheelbarrow" (what English speakers called a wheelbarrow) is a whole different thing, and though it can do some things European wheelbarrows can't, theirs can't do some of what is quite normal for our little short-distance, imperfect wheelbarrows.

Thinking of what ours are used for might give some ideas for what I'm thinking of in way of features gathered and improved over hundreds of years.

French wheelbarrow science and etymology

The French wikipedia page is heavy on physics and the advantage of a larger wheel: (near the bottom there), but it also seems that the French word for wheelbarrow, "brouette", makes it a diminutive of a two-wheeled cart.

Étymologiquement, une brouette est un véhicule à deux roues. Le terme, qui apparaît au xive siècle, serait un diminutif de beroue, lui-même venant du bas latin birota, véhicule à deux roues1.

There is a 13th century mention, in French, cited and quoted on that page, and some 14th.

The illustrations from yesterday might be French. Tomorrow I'll have photos of some modern new wheelbarrows, manufactured in France. Then back to photos I've taken, perhaps.

Here is some (not all) of the scientific examination of how these might work best, from that page (click the image for more):