MYP 3 Science Test (Machines)

Attempt all question and type your answers in the spaces below each question.
Criterion A: Knowing and understanding
Qn.1. A gardener is using a wheelbarrow to carry gravel for a pathway (Figure 1). The
gravel weighs 200 N and its centre weight acts 0.5 m from the central axle of the wheel.
The length of the wheelbarrow, from wheel axle to handles, is 1.5 m.

Figure 1 Wheelbarrow problem.

a). Calculate the moment of the gravel around the wheel axle. [3]

b). Apply the principle of moments to calculate the size of the effort the gardener needs to
make to lift the barrow handles. [2]

c). State whether this is a force magnifier or a distance magnifier, and explain your
reasoning. [1]

d) If Mechanical advantage is Output force/Input force, calculate the mechanical advantage

of the wheelbarrow.
2. The arm of the construction crane in Figure 2. is 50 m long from one end to the other.
The fulcrum of the crane is positioned 10 m from the counter-weight. The crane has to
lift a block of concrete that weighs 25 000 N.

Figure 2.

a). Calculate how large the counter-weight must be.

3. Define the terms;

i) Mechanical advantage and [1]

ii) Efficiency of a machine. [1]

b) Assuming you exerted 20N force on a can opener which in turn exerted 40N force to open
the lid,
Figure 3 can opener.
Calculate the;
i) Mechanical advantage of the opener?[2]

ii) Efficiency of the can opener?[2]

4. The figure below is of a lawn mower.

You mow the lawn with a rusty lawn mower. You do 50,000 J of work on the lawn mower
but only 25,000 J go to cutting the lawn.

a) calculate the efficiency of the lawn mower?[2]

b) Give reason(s) why the efficiency of a machine in never 100%.[2]

5. What is energy? [1]

c) Match the type of energy with the correct description.

Energy form Description

Chemical energy Gravitational energy of space or position

Mechanical energy Energy of the object due to its position or motion

Electrical energy Energy stored in bonds of atoms and molecules

Nuclear energy Energy found in the nucleus of an atom

Gravitation potential Energy caused by moving charges called electrons

energy

END