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Calculating Mechanical Advantage Worksheet

This document provides background information on calculating mechanical advantage for different simple machines, including levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, inclined planes, and screws. It defines mechanical advantage as the output force divided by the input force. Equations are given for calculating the mechanical advantage of each machine based on the length of effort and resistance arms for levers, the number of rope segments for pulleys, the radius of the wheel and axle, and the length and height of the slope for inclined planes and screws. Sample problems are then provided to apply these calculations.

Uploaded by

Chaman Lal Karotia
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
549 views

Calculating Mechanical Advantage Worksheet

This document provides background information on calculating mechanical advantage for different simple machines, including levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, inclined planes, and screws. It defines mechanical advantage as the output force divided by the input force. Equations are given for calculating the mechanical advantage of each machine based on the length of effort and resistance arms for levers, the number of rope segments for pulleys, the radius of the wheel and axle, and the length and height of the slope for inclined planes and screws. Sample problems are then provided to apply these calculations.

Uploaded by

Chaman Lal Karotia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Calculating Mechanical Advantage

Directions : Use the provided background information to solve


the math problems on the following page.
Background:
We use simple machines everyday to make work easier. We use
inclined planes to lift heavy objects. We use screws such as car
jacks to change flat tires. These machines are able to make work
easier by multiplying the amount of effort put into them, also
known as the output force. By multiplying the effort force, a
simple machine is able to overcome the input force, or the force
that opposes the effort force and the force of the machine. The
number of times the machine multiplies the effort force is called
its mechanical advantage. The most basic equation used to
calculate mechanical advantage is as follows:
Mechanical Advantage = Output Force/ Input Force
We must now consider how to calculate mechanical advantage for
each type of simple machine. Below are the equations needed to
calculate mechanical advantage for each simple machine.
Lever: Mechanical Advantage = length of effort arm/ length of
resistance arm
Pulley: Count the number of rope segments that exert an upward
force on the object being moved.
Wheel and Axle: Mechanical Advantage = radius of wheel/radius
of axle
Inclined Plane: Mechanical Advantage = length of slope/ height
of slope
(Includes wedge height of slope and screw)

Calculating Mechanical Advantage (cont.)


Questions:
1. A crow bar (lever) is often used to lift a large object. If the
crowbar is
100 cm long and the object is 20 cm from the fulcrum, what is the
mechanical advantage of the crowbar?

2. The wheel of a small dirt bike has a radius of 30 cm. The axle
has a radius of 20 cm. What is the mechanical advantage of the
wheel and axle?

3. You are using a ramp to move a heavy box into a moving truck.
If the mechanical advantage of the ramp is 2 and the ramp is 2.5
meters long, how high is the slope of the ramp?

4. What is the mechanical advantage of the pulley seen here?

5. The mechanical advantage of a steering wheel is 15. If the


radius of the steering column (axle) is 5 cm, what is the radius of
the steering wheel?

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