Chapter 6 Summary
- a simple machine changes the direction and/or magnitude of a force. It does not change the amount of work that is done.
- With zero energy losses, the work done on one side of a simple machine will equal the energy gained at the other side of the machine.
- The work or energy that comes out of a machine can never exceed the work or energy that goes into a machine.
There are two main families of Simple Machines:
- Inclined Plane Family
- Lever Family
- The Mechanical Advantage (MA) of a Simple Machine is the "advantage" that one gets from using the machine. Usually it is a force multiplier. If a machine has an MA of 5, it means you can lift 5X more force. Of course, you will have to also use 5X more distance.
- The 3 classes of Levers are differentiated by the positioning of the fulcrum, effort force, and load force.
- In reality, no machine is ever 100% efficient. The efficiency of a machine is a ratio between the work output of a machine divided by the work input of a machine.
- Mechanical Advantage (MA) = load force / effort force = effort distance / load distance
- Efficiency = work (or energy) out / work (or energy) in