SIMPLE MACHINES
A machine is a device on which a force applied at one point, is used to overcome a
force at another point.
The force applied is called the Effort and the force to be overcome is called the Load.
A machine simplifies works by magnifying the effort.
Principle of machines
It states that a small force (effort) moves over a large distance to produce a bigger
force that moves the load over a small distance.
Terms used:
i. Effort (E): Is the force applied at one point of a machine to overcome the load.
The S.I unit is Newton.
ii. Load (L): Is the force, which is overcome by the machine using the effort. The S.I
unit is Newton.
iii. Mechanical Advantage (M.A): This is the ratio of load to effort.
It is the number of times the effort is greater than the Load. Or it is the number of
times the machine magnifies the effort.
Load
Mechanical Advantage= Effort
L
i.e M . A= E .
Mechanical Advantage has no unit.
iv. Velocity ratio (V.R): This is the ratio of the distance moved by the effort to the
distance moved by the load. The velocity ratio has no SI unit.
Distance moved by effort
Velocity Ratio=
Distance moved by load
It is the ratio of the velocity of the effort to the velocity of the load in the same time. It
is independent of friction.
v. Efficiency (𝜼): This is the ratio of work output to the work input expressed as a
percentage.
work output
i. e Efficiency ( η )= work input × 100 %
work output =Load × Load distance
work input=effort × effort distance
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Load × Load distance
Efficiency= × 100 %
Effort × Effort distance
Load Load distance
Efficiency= × ×100 %
Effort Effort distance
1
Efficiency=M . A × ×100 %
V .R
M.A
Efficieny= 100 %
V .R
NOTE:
The efficiency of a machine system is always less than 100% because of;
Friction in the moving parts of the machine.
Work wasted in lifting useless weights like movable parts of the machine. The
efficiency can be improved by;
Oiling or greasing the movable parts.
Using lightweight materials for movable parts
Examples:
1. A simple machine raises a load of 3000N through a distance of 0.5m when an effort
of 150N is applied through a distance of 12.5m. Calculate
i) Mechanical advantage
ii) Velocity ratio
iii) Efficiency of the machine
Solution
L=3000 N , Load distance=0.5 m, E=150 N , Effort distance=12.5 m
L
i. M . A=
E
3000
M . A=
150
⸫ M . A=20
Effort distance
ii. V . R=
Load Distance
12.5
V . R=
0.5
⸫ V . R=25
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M. A
iii. Efficiency=
V .R
× 100 %
20
Efficiency= × 100 %
25
⸫ Efficiency=80 %
The following are examples of simple machines;
i) The levers.
ii) The pulley systems.
iii) The inclined plane.
iv) The screw.
v) The wheel and axle.
vi) The gears.
vii) The hydraulic press.
LEVERS:
This is a type of machine with a rigid body capable of turning about a
fixed point. This fixed point about which a lever turns is called the pivot
[fulcrum].
The lever has three major parts i.e the effort, the pivot and the load.
Classes of lever
The class of the lever depends on the relative position of the parts. There
are three classes of levers and these are;
i) First class levers.
ii) Second class levers.
iii) Third class levers
First class levers
This is a lever system where the load is between the fulcrum (or pivot)
and the effort. Examples are;
See-saw
Pair of scissors
Pair of pliers
Weighing scale
Claw Hummer
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Second class lever
This is a lever system where the load is between the fulcrum (or pivot)
and the effort. Examples are;
Wheel barrow
Nutcracker
Bottle opener
Third class lever
This is a lever system where the Effort is between the fulcrum (or pivot) and the
load. Examples are;
Fishing rod
Pair of tongs
Human arm
Spade
Forceps
NOTE:
-Load arm is the distance of the load from pivot.
-Effort arm is the distance of effort from pivot.
-𝐌.𝐀 ≈ 𝐕.𝐑 ¿ Effort ≈ Load arm .
Load Effort arm
Hence, a lever system is more efficient compared to other machines.
PULLEY SYSTEM:
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