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Understanding Simple Machines and Levers

1) The document discusses simple machines including levers. Levers use a fulcrum to multiply force or distance. A lever may act as a force or distance multiplier. 2) Examples of force multipliers are crowbars, wheelbarrows, and nutcrackers. They apply a small effort force over a large distance to exert a large force on the load. 3) An example of a distance multiplier is the forearm. It applies a large effort force over a small distance to exert a small force on the load over a large distance.

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111 views1 page

Understanding Simple Machines and Levers

1) The document discusses simple machines including levers. Levers use a fulcrum to multiply force or distance. A lever may act as a force or distance multiplier. 2) Examples of force multipliers are crowbars, wheelbarrows, and nutcrackers. They apply a small effort force over a large distance to exert a large force on the load. 3) An example of a distance multiplier is the forearm. It applies a large effort force over a small distance to exert a small force on the load over a large distance.

Uploaded by

anoeta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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*01 Forces&Energy (8-45).

qxd 25/1/07 5:11 pm Page 19

Simple machines 1
Key words
1 First-order levers Rowboat force moment
effort lever work
load effort mechanical
advantage

load Simple machines


●A machine is a device in which a force
applied at one point gives an output
fulcrum force elsewhere.
fulcrum
● The work done by a machine, E,
Scissors equals the force applied multiplied by
the distance moved, E = F x d.
load effort
● The force ratio (mechanical
advantage) of a machine is the ratio
of the load to the effort.
fulcrum
force ratio = load/effort
● The distance ratio (velocity ratio) of a
machine is the ratio of the distance
2 Second-order levers moved by the effort to the distance
moved by the load.
load distance ratio = distance moved by
effort/distance moved by load
load effort ● Force multipliers have both a high
fulcrum
force ratio and a high distance ratio.
● Distance multipliers have both a low
fulcrum
effort Nutcracker force ratio and a low distance ratio.

Levers
● These simple machines are all based
load
on levers. Their action is based on the
law of moments. A lever may act as a
effort force multiplier or a distance
multiplier.
Wheelbarrow ● Crowbars, wheelbarrows, and
fulcrum nutcrackers are force multipliers. A
small effort force is applied over a
large distance to exert a large force on
3 Third-order levers the load over a small distance.
● The forearm is a distance multiplier. A
Tweezers
load large effort force is applied over a
load small distance to exert a small force on
the load over a large distance.
fulcrum
effort
1 First-order levers
fulcrum ● A first order lever has the fulcrum
effort
between the effort and load.
© Diagram Visual Information Ltd.

Fishing rod
effort
2 Second-order levers
● A second order lever has the load
between the effort and fulcrum.
load
3 Third-order levers
● A third order lever has the effort
fulcrum between the fulcrum and load.

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