Simple Machines

Inclined Plane, Wedge, and Screw

Simple Machines

The Six Simple Machines

Mechanisms that manipulate force and distance.

Lever Wheel and Axle Pulley

Inclined Plane Wedge Screw
Inclined Plane
A flat surface set at an angle or incline with no
moving parts
Able to lift objects by pushing or pulling the load
Inclined Plane AMA
ft s
FR 15
50
. lb
4 ft
AMA = 20
. lb
FE
What is the AMA of the inclined plane above?

50
.lb
A
MA= AMA = 2.5 = 2.5:1
20.lb
What is the efficiency of the inclined plane above?
AMA 2.50
Efficiency =  = 0.67 or 67%
IMA 3.75
Wedge
• Functions as a moving inclined plane
• Tapers to a thin edge
• Used for splitting, raising heavy items, or tightening
by expansion (being driven into something)
Wedge IMA
H 3.0 in.
DE

10.0 in.
IMA =
DR

L
DE = Distance traveled by the effort = L
DR = Distance traveled by the resistance = H

L
IMA =
H
What is the IMA of the wedge on the right?

IMA = 10.0 in. / 3.0 in. = 3.33 = 3.3:1

 250. lb
Wedge AMA
H 3.0 in.
FR
AMA =

L 10.0 in.
FE
What is the AMA of the
wedge on the right?
b 700
700 .lb 70 0. l . lb
AMA =
250 .lb
AMA = 2.80 = 2.80:1
What is the efficiency of the wedge
on the right?
AMA 2.800
Efficiency =  = 0.84 or 84%
IMA 3.333
Screw
Two Components:
• An inclined plane wrapped
around a cylinder, forming
the screw’s “pitch”
• A wheel and axle used to
create rotary motion

Properties:
• Change rotary motion into linear motion
• Used as a threaded fastener
• Large amount of friction loss (is this good or bad?)
• Large MA
Screw Identification
Effort Arm Distance
If using a wrench, effort arm distance
would be the length of the wrench

Pitch
Distance between threads, also
the linear distance traveled in one
rotation of the screw.
Example: a screw has 13 threads
per inch, 13 TPI for short. The
pitch (distance between threads)
is 1/13 of an inch.

Q: How far will a screw with 13 threads per inch Diameter

advance if turned one full rotation?
A: 1/13 of a inch
Screw Identification
Standard Thread Information
1/4 x 20 x 3.0 NC
Pitch
Length in Thread
Outside (TPI)
inches description
diameter of (Optional)
screw shaft coarse or fine
(inches) (Optional)

Metric Thread Information

M3 x 0.5 x 30
M = Metric
Outside Pitch Length in
diameter of (mm per mm
screw shaft thread) (Optional)
(mm)
Screw Identification
Unified Thread Information
#4 x 40 x 2.0 NC
Pitch
Length in Thread
Outside (TPI)
inches description
diameter of (Optional)
screw shaft coarse or fine
(inches) (Optional)

• In Unified threads (measured in inches) there are

numbered diameters #0 through #10
• #0 the smallest and #10 is the largest
• The major diameter in Unified Threads =
0.060" + 0.013" X (numbered diameter)
• Example: A #2 has a major diameter of 0.086"
Screw IMA 1/4 20 NC
DE
IMA =
DR
DE = One rotation of the effort = Circumference
DR = Linear distance traveled during one rotation = Pitch

Circumference 2πrE
IMA = =
Pitch P
What is the IMA of the screw above if effort is applied
by an 8.0in. long wrench?
2π8.0in 3
IMA = = 1005.31 = 1.0 •10
1in
20
Screw AMA 8 in.

FR 1/4 20 NC
AMA =
FE 35 lb

What is the AMA of the screw?

1
200lb 1200 lb
A
MA= AMA = 34.29 = 34:1
35lb
What is the efficiency of the screw?
AMA 34.29
Efficiency =  = 0.0341 or 3.4%
IMA 1005.3
Why is efficiency so low?
Compound Machines
Simple machines working in combination
to complete a task

Calculating mechanical advantage

MA = MA1   MA2   MA ... 
Image Resources
Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip Art. Retrieved January 10, 2008, from
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx