Understanding Mechanical Advantage

What is mechanical advantage?

• The process of lifting heavy objects without tools

• The ratio of output force to input force in a system

• The amount of energy consumed by a machine

• A type of machine that uses electricity

Why is it beneficial to use machines that generate mechanical advantage?

• To increase the speed of work without considering force

• To completely eliminate the need for human labor

• To make machines operate without energy

• To lift heavier loads with less effort

What simple machine is described as a beam pivoting about a fixed hinge?

• Pulley

• Hydraulic press

• Gear

• Lever

How is the mechanical advantage of a lever calculated?

• The total weight of the lever

• The weight of the load divided by the effort

• The distance between the fulcrum and the load

• The ratio of the distances from the fulcrum to the effort and load points

What is the effect of moving the fulcrum closer to the load in a lever system?

• It has no effect on the mechanical advantage

• It increases the mechanical advantage

• It makes the lever harder to balance

• It decreases the mechanical advantage

Why do levers not create energy?

• Because they only transfer energy from one point to another

• Because they are made of inelastic materials

• Because they require human effort to operate

• Because the energy used is equal to the force applied times the distance

What principle do all machines that generate mechanical advantage work on?

• Converting a small force over a long distance into a large force over a short distance

• Using electricity to enhance force

• Creating energy from the movement of parts

• Reducing the weight of the load directly

What does a single pulley system primarily do?

• Reduces the weight of the load

• Doubles the input force

• Changes the direction of the force

• Increases the speed of lifting

In a pulley system, what happens when the pulley is attached to the load?

• The speed of lifting is doubled

• The force required to lift the load is halved

• The mechanical advantage is lost

• The system becomes unstable

What is the purpose of adding a second pulley in a pulley system?

• To double the lifting speed

• To allow force to be applied at an angle for easier use

• To reduce the mechanical advantage

• To increase the weight of the system