Simple Machines

A simple machine
 is a mechanical device that changes
the direction or magnitude of a force.
 can be defined as the simplest
mechanisms that use mechanical
advantage (also called leverage) to
multiply force.
 It uses a single applied force to do
work against a single load force.
A simple machine
 Ignoring friction losses,
work done on the load = work done by
the applied force.
 can be used to increase the amount of
the output force, at the cost of a
proportional decrease in the distance
moved by the load.
 The ratio of the output to the input force
is the mechanical advantage.
Six simple machines
 Lever
 Wheel and axle
 Pulley
 Inclined plane
 Wedge
 Screw
 Six simple machines
 theelementary "building blocks“
composed the complicated machines.
Eg. wheels, levers, and pulleys -
mechanism of a bicycle.
 Simple machines fall into two classes:
(i) dependent on the vector resolution of
forces (inclined plane, wedge, screw)
(ii) in an equilibrium of torques (lever,
pulley, wheel).
 Lever

The lever is used to exert a large force over a small distance at one
end by exerting only a small force over a greater distance at the other.
Lever

The principle of the lever tells us that the above is in static

equilibrium, with all forces balancing, if F1D1 = F2D2.
First Class Lever
applied force

load

fulcrum

Examples:
Seesaw, Crowbar, Claw Hammer, Pliers, Scissors, Spud
bar (moving heavy objects), Wheel and axle, Chopsticks
Second Class Lever

Examples:
Nutcracker, Wheelbarrow, Wrench, Bottle opener, Diving Board (spring
board), Push-up, Oars, Tennis racket, Nail clippers.
Third Class Lever

Examples
Baseball bat, Boat paddle, Broom, Electric Gates, Fishing rod,
Hockey stick, Shovel, Stapler, Tongs, Tweezers, Hammer
MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE
 When a machine takes a small input force and increases the magnitude of
the output force, a mechanical advantage has been produced. If a machine
increases an input force of 10 kg to an output force of 100 kg, the machine
has a mechanical advantage (MA) of 10 as shown below:

Output force
MA =
Input force
100 kg
=
10 kg
= 10
Wheel and Axle

Other examples are Doorknobs, Screwdrivers, Gears, Steerings

Wheel and Axle
Wheel The ideal mechanical
advantage of a wheel
and axle is

R
=
Axle
r
r

R
Wheel and Axle
Calculate the MA of bicycle

30 cm

15 cm

chain
Wheel and Axle
Calculate the MA of the
machine.

Diameter of
axle is 3 cm

25 cm
Pulleys
 Pulleys
 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.
 Output force
MA =
input force
no. of ropes to support load
=
no. of effort ropes
Nl
=
Ne
= no. of ropes to support load (Nl )
Fixed or class 1 pulley
Movable or class 2 pulley
Nl
MA = Nl
Ne MA =
Ne
1
= 2
1 =
1
=1
=2
MA of pulleys

MA = 1 MA = 2 MA = 2 MA = 3
F T
G

70 kg

70 kg

80 kg

Calculate forces
F, G, H and T
120 kg
Inclined Plane

Dis tan ce of slope

MA =
height of slope
S
=
H
Inclined plane
Calculate MA of bus.

I PR
M
27 m 3.8
5 km
Wedge

A wedge is a triangular shaped tool, a compound

and portable inclined plane
Wedge
Inclined plane

Effort
force

Load

Wedge

Effort
force
Wedge

Effort
force
Length of slope
MA =
Thickness of wedge
S
=
T
Screw
Pitch, p
Diameter, D

threads

Screws are helical inclined planes

Screw
Circumference of screw
MA =
Pitch of screw
2πr
=
p
πD
∴ MA =
p
Screw
1. If a screw has 21 threads per cm and its
diameter is 0.5 cm, calculate the
mechanical advantage.
2. A screw has a MA of 33. If its diameter is
7 mm, calculate the number of threads
per cm.