What is a Simple Machine?
A simple machine has
few or no moving
parts.
Simple machines
make work easier
W=Pxt
P=W/t
t=W/P W
. .
. .
P x t
W = 75 N x 1 m = 75 J
W = 25 N x 3 m = 75 J
1m
75 N
Simple
Machines
Pulley
Wheel &
Axle
Lever
Inclined
plane
Screw
Wedge
Gear
Simple Machines
Pulley Inclined plane
Wheel & Axle Screw
Lever Wedge
Gear
The 6 Simple Machines
Lever Inclined Plane Pulley
Wheel and Axle
Screw Wedge
Fulcrum is between EF (effort) and RF (load)
Effort moves farther than Resistance.
Multiplies EF and changes its direction
RF (load) is between fulcrum and EF
Effort moves farther than Resistance.
Multiplies EF, but does not change its direction
EF is between fulcrum and RF (load)
Does not multiply force
Resistance moves farther than Effort.
Multiplies the distance the effort force travels
I. The Simple Machines
1. Levers
FE FR
a. 1st class:
b. 2nd class: FE FR
c. 3rd class: FR FE
d. IMA = effort arm / resistance arm
Lever action
2 meters
1 meter
Force= ?
Force=13 N
Mechanical
Advantage= final distance
starting distance
9 meters
3 meters
Mechanical
Advantage= distance
distance
8 meters
2 meters
MA = Fr / Fe
Fr = MA x Fe
Fe = Fr / MA Fr
. .
. .
MA x Fe
To find the mechanical
advantage of a lever.
MA = Length of effort arm /
length of resistance arm
MA = Le / Lr
MA= 30m/10m
MA= 3
To find the mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle
MA = radius of wheel / radius of axle
MA = 5 / 1
MA = 5
To find the mechanical
advantage of an inclined plane
MA = Length of slope / Height
of slope
To find the mechanical advantage
of a pulley
MA = Number of pulleys you see
MA=1 MA=5 MA=4 MA=2
Pulley
A pulley consists of a grooved wheel
that turns freely in a frame called a
block.
A pulley can be used to simply
change the direction of a force or to
gain a mechanical advantage,
depending on how the pulley is
arranged.
A pulley is said to be a fixed pulley if
it does not rise or fall with the load
being moved. A fixed pulley changes
the direction of a force; however, it
does not create a mechanical
advantage.
A moveable pulley rises and falls with
the load that is being moved. A single
moveable pulley creates a mechanical
advantage; however, it does not
change the direction of a force.
The mechanical advantage of a
moveable pulley is equal to the
number of ropes that support the
moveable pulley.
-Fixed -Movable -Block &
Pulley Pulley Tackle Pulley
2. Pulleys
a. Fixed pulley
1) changes only the direction of a force
2) always has IMA = 1
b. Movable pulley
1) attached to object
2) IMA = 2
c. Block and Tackle
This strand
1) system of fixed and movable does not count
pulleys
toward the IMA
2) IMA = number of strands supporting
the resistance
Wheel and Axle
The wheel and axle is a
simple machine
consisting of a large
wheel rigidly secured to
a smaller wheel or shaft,
called an axle.
When either the wheel or
axle turns, the other part
also turns. One full
revolution of either part
causes one full revolution
of the other part.
3. Wheel and Axle
a. IMA = rw / ra
b. Gears are modified
forms of the wheel and
axle
Inclined Plane
An inclined plane is
an even sloping
surface. The inclined
plane makes it easier
to move a weight
from a lower to
higher elevation.
The mechanical advantage of an inclined
plane is equal to the length of the slope
divided by the height of the inclined
plane.
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4. Inclined Planes: IMA = Ls / Lh
5. The Screw
a. Modified inclined plane
wrapped around a cylinder
b. The pitch of the threading
determines the IMA
6. The Wedge: two inclined planes back-
to-back
Wedge
The wedge is a modification
of the inclined plane. Wedges
are used as either separating
or holding devices.
A wedge can either be
composed of one or two
inclined planes. A double
wedge can be thought of as
two inclined planes joined
together with their sloping
surfaces outward.
Screw
The screw is also a
modified version of
the inclined plane.
While this may be
somewhat difficult to
visualize, it may help
to think of the
threads of the screw
as a type of circular
ramp (or inclined
plane).
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