Simple Machines and Mechanical Advantage

Mechanical Advantage refers to the benefit gained by using a machine to perform work. It allows a
smaller effort force to lift a larger load. The ratio of the load to the effort is used to calculate
mechanical advantage.

1. Inclined Plane
Friction Normal
● Explanation: An inclined plane
is a flat surface tilted at an
angle to help raise or lower F (tension)
objects.
● Mechanical Advantage:
Reduces the amount of force
needed to lift an object by
spreading the distance over
which the force is applied.
● Ratio Equation: Load / Effort =
Height / Length of the incline.
● Applications:
○ Ramps: Used for
wheelchair access, θ
loading docks, or
moving heavy objects
to higher levels.
○ Roads: Sloped roads or highways make it easier for vehicles to navigate hills.

2. Pulleys

● Explanation: A wheel on an axle with a rope or cable that

helps lift heavy loads.
● Mechanical Advantage: Allows the lifting of heavy objects
with less effort by changing the direction of the force.
○ The mechanical advantage (MA) can be calculated
by counting the number of rope segments
supporting the load. For example, if there are four
segments of rope lifting the load, the MA is 4,
meaning you can lift a load four times heavier
than the force you apply
● Ratio Equation: Load / Effort = Number of supporting
ropes.
● How it works: When you pull down on one side of the
rope, the pulley allows the load on the other side to be
lifted. This effectively changes the direction of the force,
making it easier to lift heavy objects.
● Applications:
○ Crane Systems: Used in construction to lift heavy loads vertically.
○ Flagpoles: Pulleys allow flags to be raised and lowered easily.

3. Wheel and Axle

 ● Explanation: Comprises a larger wheel attached to a smaller axle, allowing for easier
movement of loads. The rotation of the wheel causes the axle to turn as well. Since the
wheel has a larger radius, it can exert a greater force over a larger distance, making it easier
to move the load.
● Mechanical Advantage: Reduces
the effort needed to move an
object by increasing the distance
the wheel travels compared to the
axle.
● Ratio Equation: Load / Effort =
Radius of the wheel / Radius of the
axle.
● Applications
○ Vehicles: Wheels and
axles are fundamental in
cars, bicycles, and other
forms of transportation.
○ Machinery: Used in
various machines to
facilitate movement and
reduce effort.

4. Screws

● Explanation: A spiral inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder.

● Mechanical Advantage: Converts rotational force to linear force, allowing for easy insertion
into materials.
○ The screw provides a mechanical advantage by allowing a small rotational force
(torque) to generate a much larger linear force. The closer the threads are together,
the greater the mechanical advantage, meaning less effort is needed to drive the
screw into the material.
● Ratio Equation: Load / Effort = Length of the screw thread / Pitch of the screw.
● Application:
○ Construction: Used to fasten materials together in structures and furniture.
○ Mechanical Devices: Screws are used in machinery to hold components in place.

5. Levers

● Explanation: A rigid bar

pivoted at a fulcrum, used to
lift or move loads. Levers are
used to lift or move loads with
less effort by applying a force
at one end.
● Mechanical Advantage: The
position of the fulcrum affects
the effort needed to lift the
load.
○ With a mechanical
advantage of 3 if you
apply a force (effort) of, for example, 33.33 N at the end of the lever, you can lift a
load of 100 N.
 ● Ratio Equation: Load / Effort = Distance from fulcrum to load / Distance from fulcrum to
effort.
● Applications:
○ Seesaws: Playground equipment that utilizes the lever principle for balance.
○ Crowbars: Used to lift heavy objects or pry things apart.

6. Wedge

● Explanation: A piece of material that tapers to a sharp

edge, used to split or cut objects.
● Mechanical Advantage: Converts a force applied to the
wide end into forces perpendicular to the surfaces of
the wedge.
○ The wedge provides a mechanical advantage by
allowing a small force to exert a much larger
force at the tip. The angle of the wedge affects
how much force is needed to do the work—
steeper angles require more effort but can split
materials more effectively.
● Ratio Equation: Load / Effort = Length of the wedge /
Width of the wedge.
○ By taking the values of Length of the wedge =
10 cm and Height of the wedge = 2 c, the
mechanical advantage is 5
○ The mechanical advantage of 5 means that the
force applied to the wider end is amplified by a factor of 5 at the tip of the wedge.
This allows you to exert a larger force to split or cut materials with less effort.
● Applications:
○ Doorstops: Wedges hold doors open or closed.
○ Chisels: Employed in woodworking and stone carving to shape materials.

7. Gears

● Explanation: Rotating wheels with teeth

that interlock to transmit motion and
force.
● Mechanical Advantage: Changes the
speed and direction of motion, increasing
force output.
● Ratio Equation: Load / Effort = Number of
teeth on the driven gear / Number of
teeth on the driving gear.
● Applications:
○ Clocks: Gears regulate
timekeeping by controlling the
movement of hands.
○ Bicycles: Gear systems adjust the resistance for pedaling, allowing for easier cycling.

Forces
● Newton: The SI unit of force. One Newton is the force required to accelerate a mass of one
kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared.
Vector Representation of Forces
● Vector Arrows: Used to represent the magnitude and direction of forces acting on an object.
The length of the arrow indicates the force's magnitude, while the arrowhead shows the
direction.