Mechanical Advantage, Speed Ratio, & Efficiency

What is mechanical advantage?

• The amount by which a machine can multiply the force.

• The speed at which a machine operates.

• The weight a machine can lift.

• The size of a machine.

What is the output force in the context of mechanical advantage?

• The force the machine applies.

• The force you apply.

• The speed of the machine.

• The weight of the machine.

What is the mechanical advantage of the lever if the effort force is 500 N and the load force is 2500 N?

• 1

• 2

• 5

• 10

Which of the following statements is true about first-class levers?

• The fulcrum is between the effort and the load

• The load is between the effort and the fulcrum

• The effort is between the load and the fulcrum

• The fulcrum is at the end of the lever

What role does the fulcrum play in a lever system?

• It increases the load force.

• It acts as the pivot point.

• It decreases the effort force.

• It is where the load is applied.

if a load of a lever is 100 newtons and the force you apply is 20 newtons, what is your mechanical advantage?

• 120 N
• 5 N
• 2000 N
• 80 N

What is effort (input) force?

• the force required by a machine in order to accomplish work (the force you put on the machine)
• the force which an effort force must overcome in order to do work on an object via a simple machine.
• the force the machine exerts on a object
• the output work times the input distance

To increase the mechanical advantage of a lever,

• make sure the fulcrum is in the middle of the lever

• move the fulcrum closer to the load

• move the fulcrum closer to the effort

• use a bigger fulcrum

Answer explanation

To increase the mechanical advantage of a lever, moving the fulcrum closer to the load reduces the effort needed to lift the load, thus increasing the mechanical advantage.

What is the speed ratio if you push down 10m on a lever and the load is lifted 2 m?

• 5

• 10

• 2

• 1

In reality, why is mechanical advantage less than speed ratio?

• Mechanical advantage is affected by friction; speed ratio is not.

• Speed ratio is affected by friction; mechanical advantage is not.

• Both are affected by friction.

• Neither are affected by friction.