Simple Machines

Levers
A simple
machine is a
mechanical
device that
changes the
direction or
size of a force.
Simple machines
are used to make
work easier.
Combinations of
two or more simple
machines working
together are called
compound
machines.
A lever is a simple machine made of a rigid bar and a fulcrum. A fulcrum is the point on which a lever rests
or is supported and on which it pivots (turns).
These
The load machines create
is what we want to systems
move. The effort is the for
forcedifferent
we put into thekinds
machineof

movement to occur when force is applied to a load.

Mechanical advantage (MA) refers to how much a simple machine multiplies an applied force.

MA = Effort Arm/Load Arm

The MA for a lever can be calculated from the lengths of the arms or the lever.
When the distances are equal, the force put on a lever will equal the force the lever puts on the load.
The resistance arm is the distance from the fulcrum to the center of the load. The effort arm the distance from the
fulcrum to the center of the force put in.
Work = force X distance moved

For a lever:
The work put in (Win)=
force put on the lever (Fin) X length of the effort arm (Din)

The work on the load (Wout)=

force put on load (Fout) X length of the resistance arm (Dout)
No machine is ideal. This means that some work energy gets lost (usually because of friction).

However, in an Ideal machine the work that we get out equals the work we put in.

(W in)=(W out)

(Fin)X(Din)=(Fout)X(D out)
If the input and output distances are the same, it is easy to see that the force needed to lift the load is equal to the downward force of the load.
Fin X 100 cm = 1 Kg X 100 cm

MA = 100 cm/ 100 cm = 1

Fin = 1.0 Kg

? 1 Kg

100 cm 100 cm
If the input distance is greater than the output distance:

Fin X 200 cm = 1 Kg X 100 cm

MA = 200 cm/ 100 cm = 2

Fin = 0.5 Kg

? 1 Kg

200 cm 100 cm
If the input distance is greater than the output distance:

Fin X 100 cm = 1 Kg X 200 cm

MA = 100 cm/ 200 cm = 0.5

Fin = 2.0 Kg

? 1 Kg

100 cm 200 cm
Fold the paper lengthwise (the long way) into a strip about 2.5 cm wide. This will be the lever.
Mark a line 2 cm from one end of the paper strip and label it Output.
Slide the other end of the paper strip over the edge of a table until the strip begins to teeter on the edge. Mark a line across the paper at the table edge and label it Input.
Measure the mass of the paper to the nearest 0.1 g. Write this mass on the Input line. (The mass of a standard A4 piece of paper is 5.0 g)
 utp
In

u t
tp
Ou
Center a $1 coin on the output line.
Locate the fulcrum by sliding the paper strip, with the dime side on the table, over the edge until the strip begins to teeter on the edge.
Mark the balance line. Label the line Fulcrum #1

Fu In
lcr pu
u t
m
1
Measure the length of the input distance to the nearest 0.1 cm (from the fulcrum to the input line).

Measure the length of the output distance to the nearest 0.1 cm

Fu In
lcr p ut
Ou

u m
tp

1
u
t
MA = Input length ÷ Output length

MA X 5.0g (mass of paper) = approximate mass of coin

6.0 ÷ 6.8 x 5.0g = 4.4g

A one-dollar Taiwan coin 1981-2022 3.8 g
A five-dollar Taiwan coin 1981-2022 4.4 g
A ten-dollar Taiwan coin 1981-2022 7.5 g