Simple Machines Application Questions

The force applied to a simple machine.

The force exerted by a simple machine.

How much easier a simple machine makes a task.

The theoretical mechanical advantage; no friction.

Real-world mechanical advantage, with friction

Percentage of input effort turned into output work.

Reduce friction and machine weight.

Increases MA of a 1st class lever by increasing the effort distance.

The total energy put into a system, calculated by multiplying the effort force by the effort distance. (Work In = Effort Force * Effort Distance)

The energy produced by a system, calculated by multiplying the load force by the load distance. (Work Out = Load Force * Load Distance)

The ratio of work output to work input, expressed as a percentage. (Efficiency = (Work Output / Work Input) * 100%)

Efficiency decreases. The additional pulleys increase friction and the weight of the system.

They are ratios. When dividing two quantities with the same units, the units cancel out.

A measure of the amount of matter in an object, usually measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg).

The force of gravity acting on an object's mass. Measured in Newtons (N).

A measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume, calculated by dividing mass by volume (Density = Mass / Volume).

Increasing temperature generally decreases density, and decreasing temperature generally increases density.

The amount of space an object takes up, measured in milliliters (mL) or cubic centimeters (cm3).

A technique used to determine an object's volume by measuring the amount of liquid it displaces when submerged.

You can calculate the density of an object and compare it to the density of water. Or, you can simply test it by dropping it into water.

The average of a set of data, calculated by summing all values and dividing by the number of values.

Adding more pulleys to a system reduces the force required to lift a load. This happens because the load is supported by more strings, increasing the mechanical advantage.

While increasing the number of pulleys decreases the force needed to lift a load, it also increases the distance the effort force must travel.

A lever where the fulcrum is positioned between the effort and load. Examples include a seesaw, crowbar, or scissors.

A lever where the load is positioned between the effort and fulcrum. Examples include a wheelbarrow, nutcracker, or bottle opener.

A lever where the effort is positioned between the fulcrum and load. Examples include tweezers, hockey stick, or fishing rod.

Third class levers always have a mechanical advantage less than 1 (but greater than 0). This means the effort force is always greater than the load force, but the effort distance is smaller than the load distance.

Increasing the radius of a wheel increases its mechanical advantage. This happens because the effort travels a greater distance, requiring less effort force to do the same amount of work.

An inclined plane makes lifting a heavy object easier by increasing the distance the effort travels, reducing the required force.

A flatter inclined plane reduces the force required to move an object because the ramp does more of the lifting. This means the effort travels a greater distance.

Work is calculated by multiplying the force applied by the distance traveled. For example, pushing a car 15 meters with a force of 500 Newtons requires 7500 Joules of work.

Work is done when a force is applied to an object that moves over a distance. Lifting a 100N sewing machine 0.75 meters requires 75 Joules of work.

No work is done when a weight is lifted and then returned to its original position because the net displacement is zero.

Given the work done and distance traveled, the force used can be calculated. For example, if 60,000 Joules of work is done to push a car 25 meters, the force applied is 2400 Newtons.

Given the work done and force applied, the distance moved can be calculated. For example, if 2000 Joules of work is done by a 500 Newton force, the object moved 4 meters.

To calculate the density of an object, divide its mass by its volume. The formula is: Density = Mass / Volume.

A relationship between two variables where the change in one variable is proportional to the change in the other. When plotted on a graph, it forms a straight line.

A relationship between two variables where the change in one variable is not proportional to the change in the other. When plotted on a graph, it forms a curved line.

A statistical measure that describes the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.

A strong correlation suggests that the two variables are closely related. Points on a scatter plot are clustered closely around the line of best fit.

A weak correlation suggests that the two variables are not closely related. Points on a scatter plot are scattered further away from the line of best fit.

A line drawn on a scatter plot that represents the general trend of the data. It minimizes the distance between the line and the data points.