Mechanical Systems: Hydraulics and Pneumatics

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of the 'jaws of life' system?

To provide mechanical advantage in lifting heavy loads

To quickly extract people from vehicles or buildings in emergency situations (correct)

To rescue people from buildings

To open tight jars and containers

What is the term for the fixed point around which a lever pivots?

Fulcrum (correct)

Effort

Load

Mechanical advantage

What determines the type or class of lever?

The size of the effort

The position of the effort, fulcrum, and load (correct)

The material used to make the lever

The weight of the load

What is the mechanical advantage of a system where the length of the load arm is equal to the length of the effort arm?

Exactly 1 Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a first class lever?

A seesaw Signup and view all the answers

Why is there no mechanical advantage gained when using scissors?

Because they are two first class levers joined at each other's fulcrum Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a second class lever?

A wheelbarrow Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a third class lever?

A forearm Signup and view all the answers

What is the mechanical advantage of a pair of tweezers?

Less than 1 Signup and view all the answers

Why do we use levers?

To make a task easier to perform Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of using hydraulics and pneumatics?

To change a smaller force into a bigger force Signup and view all the answers

What is a common application of hydraulic systems?

Lifting heavy objects Signup and view all the answers

Why is water not often used in hydraulic systems?

It does not have good lubricating qualities Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between hydraulic and pneumatic systems?

The type of fluid used Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a hydraulic and pneumatic tool used in rescue operations?

The Jaws of Life Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle behind any hydraulic system?

Force that is applied at one point in the system is transmitted to another point in the system using a fluid Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Jaws of Life rescue system?

To open vehicles or buildings in order to rescue trapped victims Signup and view all the answers

What type of fluid is used in hydraulic systems?

Incompressible liquid Signup and view all the answers

Why are hydraulic systems used for tasks like lifting a car or digging a ditch?

Because they can amplify a small force into a bigger force Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of using hydraulic and pneumatic systems?

They allow for a mechanical advantage Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hydraulics and Pneumatics

Hydraulics is the use of liquid to convert a small force into a bigger force to get a mechanical advantage.
The principle behind any hydraulic system is that a force applied at one point in the system is transmitted to another point in the system using a fluid such as water or oil.
Water is not often used in hydraulic systems because it does not have good lubricating qualities.
Hydraulic systems use an incompressible liquid to operate.

Pneumatics

Pneumatics is the use of air or gas to convert a small force into a bigger force to get a mechanical advantage.
Pneumatic systems use compressed air to operate.

Jaws of Life Rescue System

The Jaws of Life is a collection of hydraulic and pneumatic tools used to open vehicles or buildings to rescue trapped victims.
The system has saved countless lives of people trapped in vehicles or buildings following accidents.

Levers

Introduction

A lever is a simple mechanism consisting of a rigid bar that pivots around a fixed point called a fulcrum.
A lever can generate a much larger output force from a small input force.

Three Classes of Levers

First class levers have the fulcrum in between the effort and the load.
First class levers create the best possible advantage when trying to lift an object.
Second class levers have the fulcrum at one end and the effort at the other end, and the load is between the effort and the fulcrum.
Second class levers may provide mechanical advantage.
Third class levers have an effort between the load and the fulcrum, and provide NO mechanical advantage.

Mechanical Advantage

Levers may give us a mechanical advantage (MA), which means increasing the force available to do the useful work.
Mechanical advantage is expressed as a number where 1 or less means there is no mechanical advantage and anything more than 1 means there is mechanical advantage.
Mechanical advantage is calculated by comparing the length of the load arm to the fulcrum, the effort arm to the fulcrum, and the load and the effort.

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Description

Understand how mechanical systems use liquids or gases to convert small forces into larger forces, enabling tasks like lifting cars or digging ditches. Learn about hydraulics and pneumatics and their applications.