Chapter Nine: Simple Machines 9.2 Mechanical Advantage

9.2 The Lever A lever includes a stiff structure (the lever) that rotates around a fixed point called the fulcrum.

9.2 The Lever Levers are useful because you can arrange the fulcrum and the input arm and output arm to adjust the mechanical advantage of the lever.

9.2 The Lever Each class of levers is defined by the location of the input and output forces relative to the fulcrum.

9.2 Ramps A ramp is a simple machine that allows you to raise a heavy object with less force than you would need to lift it straight up. The mechanical advantage of a ramp is the ramp length divided by the height of the ramp.

9.2 Screws A screw is a rotating ramp. You find the mechanical advantage of a screw by dividing its circumference by the lead.

9.2 Screws A wedge is like a ramp that can work while in motion (a ramp is always stationary). A wedge has a side that slopes down to a thin edge. The mechanical advantage for a wedge is inversely related to the size of the wedge angle.

9.2 Wheel and axle A wheel rotates around a rod called an axle. The mechanical advantage is the ratio of the radius of the wheel to the radius of the axle. The wheel and axle move together to move or lift loads.

Solving Problems A crowbar is a type of lever that you use to pull a nail out of a piece of wood. If the handle of a crowbar is 40 centimeters and the foot is 2 centimeters, what is its mechanical advantage?

Looking for: Given Relationships: M.A. = Length of input arm Solving Problems Looking for: …mechanical advantage of lever Given …input arm = 40 cm; output arm = 2 cm Relationships: M.A. = Length of input arm Length of output arm Solution M.A. = 40 cm ÷ 2 cm = 20