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Physics

Mechanical Advantage Analysis of Common Tools

Working individually, you'll measlue conunon tools like scissors, lvrenches, staplers, tape dispensers, prlulels, hole prurchers, staple relnovers, doorknobs and steering w.heels in oder to determine the mechanical advantage of fe\,v of these machines. In some cases, you may need to use precision measuring tools from the lab (micrometer, calipers, etc.)
As an exatnple, consider the scissors pictured below as a lever. (Hint: hold one halJ-still while you tl'tove the other halfl. Note also that the scissors blades are inclined planes, so yon rvould do a separate analysis of the MA of that sirnple machine (the inclined plane as a component of the bigger machine - scissors) as well. Then, the two IMAs are multiplied in order to detenline the total IMA provided by the machine.
Serssgrs (Machine #1:
ontput arnt

l't

class lever) distance in distance out

: 9.5 cnr

IMA

distance

in:

length of input arm

distance out
input amr

length of output arnr

:8.0

cm

For the scissors example above, the IMA of the lever portion of the machine would be 8.0crn + 9.5cm: 0.842. IMA has no units, it's simply a ratio, a multiplier, that modifies the input fblce of a system. For the scissors, squeezing the handle with a force of 1000 N applies zur output fbrce of 842 N (which is 1000 N x 0.842) to the paper being cut. Yon should show this on your calculation sheet like this:

scissols IMAnrr :

input arm
output arm

8.0 crn

= 0.842 9.5 crn

The lever in this example is a 1st class lever, but it actually reduces the input fbrce, beqause the handles are closer to the flrlcrum than the tip of the scissors are. Yon can
thr-rs

reduce this "mechanical disadvantage" by moving the rvork piece closer to the fulcmm, reducing the length of the output arm.

The input force ancl the blade of the scissors help to make up tbr this reduction, though. because the blade is actually an inclined plane that provides additional rrechanical

advantage to the machine. The

IMA of this

second machine is desclibed below.

Scissors (Machine #2: inclined plane)

\< \

005<nr

ldin:0.5crn
d,.,ut: 0.2cm

0r.,,

Sitle viety of top blade.

IMAnrz=-

distance in

0.5cm

=2.5
0.2cm

distance out

The overall IMA is the product of the two individual

IMAs: IMA'I = fMAur IMAur

Y6ur assignment rvill be to analyze three devices as shorvn above (except scissol's1 they've already been done) and calculate the ideal mechanical advantage for each. It may help to realize that a wheel (like on a roll of tape) is a form of lever, with the axle serving as fulcrum. Belol.v is a levielv of the tluee kinds of levers and hor.v to detemrine etlort and resistance a[rns.
I

tt

class lever:

resistance arm

3'd class lever:

resistance arrn 2nd class

lever:

resistance arn't

For each of the three machines that you analyze, you'Ilneed to sholv your calculations for its ideal mechanical advantage.

A digital photograph of the actual tool rvith the appropriate component dimensions (fulcrum antl effort and resistance arms, for a lever) shorvn on the photo should accompany the calculations for each of the three machines.
Your calculation document (oue per student) is due Tuesday, Decernber l0' 2013.