Physics I
Prof:
Partners:
Simple Machines and the Principle of Work
Abstract:
The purpose of this lab is to investigate the mechanical advantage granted by the use of
simple machines such as the inclined plane, wheel and axle, and a pulley system and to
determine their characteristics.
Theory:
A simple machine is a mechanism that takes an input and produces a different magnitude
and or direction. They are used to make work easier or at least possible. The purpose of the
simple machine is to manipulate the distance/force ratio; ideally, the amount of work that is put
in should be equal to the amount of work put out by the system. This is known as the ideal
mechanical advantage. Ideal mechanical advantage is calculated by dividing the distance which
the input force is exerted by the distance which the output force is exerted over. Actual
mechanical advantage is the ideal mechanical advantage with nonconservative forces factored in.
It is calculated by measuring the output force of a simple machine and then dividing it by the
input force. Using the ideal and actual mechanical advantages one can calculate the efficiency of
a machine. The efficiency will always be less than one or one hundred percent. For example, in
a pulley system, the ideal mechanical advantage is calculated by measuring the distance which
the smaller mass travels and then dividing it by the distance that the larger mass travels. The
actual mechanical advantage of a pulley system is calculated by using the ratio of the larger mass
to the smaller mass. In a wheel and axle system, the ideal mechanical advantage is calculated by
using the ratio of radii of the circles, while the actual mechanical advantage is calculated using
the ratio of the larger mass to the smaller mass. In an inclined plane, the ideal mechanical
advantage is found by taking the length travelled and dividing it by the length multiplied by the
sine of the angle of the incline. The actual mechanical advantage of an inclined plane is
calculated by dividing 1 by the sine of the angle as well as the cosine of the angle of the plane,
multiplied by the kinetic coefficient of friction.
Procedures:
Wheel and Axle:
1. Suspend the wheel and axle apparatus
2. Wrap a string around apparatus
3. Attach 550g to the end of the string
4. Increase the amount of weight on the other end of the string until the larger mass
moves with constant velocity
5. Measure and record the weights and the diameters or radii of the circles
Pulley System:
1. Set up and suspend the pulley system
2. Attach 550g to the end of the pulley system
3. Increase the amount of weight on the other end until the larger mass moves with
constant acceleration
4. Measure and record the masses and the length of the string at the separate parts of
the system
Inclined Plane:
1. Set up the inclined plane at 10゜
2. Attach a “frictionless” pulley system to the end of the plane
3. Find the weight of the block
4. Attach the string and smaller mass to end and hang over pulley
5. Add additional weight until the block starts to accelerate
6. Record the mass
7. Repeat steps 1-6 at 20° and 30°
Data/Results:
See attached sheets.
Calculations:
See attached sheets.
Questions:
1. The coefficient of kinetic friction should not change for the three angular settings of
inclined plane. That is because the friction coefficient is dependent on the properties of
the materials in contact. The coefficient of frictions are not the same for each of the
different angles.
2. As the angle of the plane increase the mechanical advantage decreases. This is true for
both ideal and actual mechanical advantage.
3. As the angle of the inclined plane increases its efficiency increases.
Conclusion:
The purpose of this lab was investigate the mechanical advantage of simple machines.
Simple machines are designed to take some amount of work and manipulate it to make a given
outcome easier or possible in some cases. In this lab students tested three separate simple
machines, including: a pulley system, an inclined plane, and a wheel and axle. The wheel and
axle was the most efficient of the three simple machines and yielded the highest ideal mechanical
advantage. However, there are multiple possible sources of error that could have occurred. One
possible source of error is that the correct amount of weight necessary for the input force may
not have been used. Another possible source of error is that the distance travelled may have been
measured incorrectly. Finally, a possible source of error could be that the radius of the wheel
and axle may not have been properly determined.
