Activity 4.

1a - All About Simple Machines

Purpose
Any mechanical device that humans use is made from six basic building blocks
called simple machines. A simple machine will increase force output by decreasing
direction output or can decrease force output by increasing direction output. It's
important to note that when a simple machine is used the same amount of work is
required - it just seems easier. A simple machine reduces the amount of effort
needed to move an object, but it results in moving it a greater distance to accomplish
the same amount of work. All complex mechanisms are made from simple
machines.

Equipment
Paper and pencil
Calculator

Procedure
For each section read the examples. Look up any terms you are unfamiliar with.
Solve the problems by applying the examples. Show all work.

The Lever

The lever is the first of the simple machines and consists of a lever arm and a
fulcrum.

E R

Fulcrum

Effort (E) is the input force which must be supplied by the user or an engine
of some kind.

Load (R) is the output force which is also the force resisting motion.

Concepts:

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Force applied to a body
Distance from fulcrum to weight
Distance from fulcrum to forces
Support on which the lever rests
The object to be moved

Equations:

1) The first equation shows the formula for calculating the Mechanical Advantage
for a Lever:

2) The second equation calculates the Load (R) that can be moved if one knows
the Effort (E) and the Mechanical Advantage (M.A.):

3) The second equation can be manipulated algebraically to find the Effort needed
if one knows the Load (R) and the Mechanical Advantage (M.A.):

Lever Practice Problems

1. Using the diagram below and the equations discussed earlier, fill in the missing
spaces on the table below. Be sure to show all work in the space provided under
the chart.

E R

LE LR

Resistance Effort Arm Effort (E)

Load (R) Arm (LR) (LE)
2 feet 6 feet 1 lbs.
8 lbs. 4 feet 4 lbs.
13 lbs 2 feet 4 lbs.

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 50 lbs. 3 feet 5 feet
113 lbs. 2 feet 40 lbs.
1 foot 10 feet 1 ton

Show all work below:

2. Select an example of a lever that you have in your home and how it is used to
help make it easier to do the work.

3. Name five devices that use the principles of a lever.

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4. If you were unable to move an object using an effort arm that was 5 feet long,
would increasing the length of the effort arm help? Explain.

Types of levers

First class lever:

The fulcrum is located in the center of the lever arm and the effort and load are at
opposite ends. Example Seesaw

Second class lever:

With a second-class lever the weight is located in the middle and the fulcrum and the
effort or at opposite ends. Example Wheelbarrow

Third class lever:

The effort is applied at the middle of the arm and the weight is held at one end while
the fulcrum is at the other end.

First Class Second Class Third Class

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5. List 5 examples of each lever.

The Wheel & Axle

A wheel & axle is similar to a rotating lever. The wheel and axle can also be used to
change from rotary to linear motion. By increasing the diameter of the wheel, the
linear distance traveled for one revolution of the axle can be increased.

A wheel & axle can be made from a 2nd or 3rd class lever.

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Equations and Definitions:

1) The first equation shows the formula for calculating the Mechanical Advantage
for a Wheel and Axle:

2) The second equation finds Resistance if the Effort and Mechanical Advantage
are known:

3) The third equation is obtained by algebraically manipulating equation #2 above:

4) Torque is a twisting force. The units for torque are typically ft-lbs or inch-lbs.
Torque can be calculated using the formula:

5) Rotary Motion is the circular motion which occurs when the wheel and axle are
rotated about the centerline axis. Usually rotary motion is defined in terms of
degrees of revolution.

6) Linear Motion is the straight-line motion which occurs when a wheel rolls along
a flat surface. The linear distance traveled when the wheel completes one
revolution is equal to the circumference of the wheel.

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 Wheel and Axle Practice Problems

1) A wheel is used to turn a valve stem on a water valve. If the wheel radius is 1 foot
and the axle radius is .5 inches, what is the mechanical advantage of the wheel
and axle?

2) How much resistance force can be overcome when an effort of 80 lbs is applied
to the wheel of the water valve in problem 1?

3) What is the linear distance traveled when a 2.5’ diameter wheel makes one
revolution?

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 4) On an automobile how could you increase the distance traveled for each
revolution of the axle while keeping bearing friction constant?

The Pulley

A pulley is an adaptation of a wheel and axle. A single pulley simply reverses the
direction of a force. When two or more pulleys are connected together, they permit a
heavy load to be lifted with less force. The trade-off is that the end of the rope must
move a greater distance than the load.

Concepts:
Effort
Force applied
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Direction change

Equations and Definitions:

1) The first equation shows the formula for calculating the Mechanical Advantage
for a Pulley:

Mechanical Advantage = Total number of strands supporting the load

(Note: Count the end strand only when the effort is pointed upwards. For
Example – for the diagram shown above the Mechanical Advantage is 6.)

2) The second equation finds the Load if the Effort and Mechanical Advantage are
known:

3) The third equation is obtained by algebraically manipulating equation #2 above:

The Three Types of Pulleys

Fixed Pulley Movable Pulley Block and Tackle

4) A Fixed Pulley is defined when a pulley is attached or fixed to a strong member,

which will not move. When a fixed pulley is used the force needed to lift a weight
does not change.

5) A Movable Pulley splits the work in half. The effort needed to lift 180 pounds
weight is 90 pounds. The mechanical advantage of a movable pulley is 2.

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6) The Block and Tackle is a system of three pulleys. It reverses the direction of
the effort so that a downward pull can be used to lift an object. The mechanical
advantage is 3 so that 40 pounds of effort is needed to lift an object weighing 120
pounds. (The distance of the rope pulled is tripled.)

Pulley Practice Problems

1) Using a block and tackle pulley system, determine the number of strands that will
be needed to lift a weight of 1092 lbs. by applying 80 pounds of force.

2) Using a block and tackle pulley system, with 7 strands and an input force of 45
pounds, what is the maximum weight that can be lifted?

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 The Incline Plane
An inclined plane is a flat sloping surface along which an object can be pushed or
pulled. An incline plane is used to move an object upward to a higher position.

L B

H
E

A

Concepts:
The secret of the incline plane is that it splits the resistance into a horizontal force
and a vertical force (gravity). The effort only needs to overcome the horizontal force
since the plane supports the vertical force.

Equations and Definitions:

1) The first equation shows the formula for calculating the Mechanical Advantage
for the Incline Plane:

2) The second equation finds the Load if the Effort and Mechanical Advantage are
known:

3) The third equation is obtained by algebraically manipulating equation #2 above:

Incline Plane Practice Problems

1) Using the diagram below find the force and mechanical advantage. Be sure to
show your work.

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 Mechanical Advantage =

Force =

2) Using the diagram below find the mechanical advantage and effort needed to
move the object up the inclined plane. Be sure to show your work.

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 Mechanical Advantage =

Effort =

Bonus Question:

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With the given information, calculate the angle (in degrees) of the incline plane.
(Show all work) Hint: use trigonometry

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The Wedge

The wedge is a modification of the inclined plane. Wedges are used to separate or hold
devices.
There are two major differences between inclined planes and wedges. During its use,
an inclined plane remains stationary, while the wedge moves. With an inclined plane the
effort force is applied parallel to the slope of the incline. With a wedge the effort force is
applied to the vertical edge (height) incline.

Wedge -Comparison to the Inclined Plane

Effort
Effort

Inclined Plane Wedge

Wedges can be single or double: L

L
H H

Single Double

Equation: (Notice the similarity to those of the inclined plane):

1) The equation for Mechanical Advantage for the Wedge is similar to that of the
inclined plane:

The Screw

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 A screw is a combination of two other simple machines: 1) an inclined plane
(wrapped around a cylinder); and 2) a wheel and axle

1) An inclined plane (wrapped around a cylinder):

AND

2) A wheel and axle:

Equations and Definitions:

1) The screw can be used to change from rotary to straight line (linear) motion.

2) Screw Pitch is the distance between two adjacent threads on a screw. The
formula to calculate pitch is:

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3) The Circumference of the screw is calculated using the Geometry formula:

Circumference = Pi * Diameter

4) The formula for the Mechanical Advantage of a screw is:

Screw Practice Problems

 Obtain a sheet of construction paper.

 Draw a diagonal line from one corner to another.
 Cut along the diagonal line, creating right two triangles, one of which looks like
the picture below.

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 Obtain a different colored sheet of construction paper.
 Roll this sheet of construction paper into a cylinder of length B and tape in place.

 Hold the cylinder upright and one of the right triangles (shown above) with Side B
parallel to the cylinder. Starting with the Side B of the triangle, wrap the triangle
around the cylinder and tape in place.

1) Find the definition of pitch. Measure the pitch of the screw you created with
construction paper, above.

2) Why do screw heads have a larger diameter than the screw shaft?

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3) What is the mechanical advantage of a 3/8” diameter screw with a pitch of 20
threads per inch if a 1.5” diameter screwdriver is used to install the screw?

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