Mechanics: Identify, describe, and apply principles of simple machines and mechanical advantage in everyday contexts
Subject outcome
Subject outcome 2.4: Identify, describe, and apply principles of simple machines and mechanical advantage in everyday contexts.
Learning outcomes
- Describe and identify the functions of simple machines.
- State and identify examples of the six basic machines:
- lever
- wheel and axle
- pulley
- inclined plane
- screw
- wedge.
- State and use the law of simple machines in calculations.
- Define mechanical advantage as:
- ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) = distance effort F moves ÷ distance resistance F moves
- actual mechanical advantage (AMA) = resistance force ÷ effort force.
- Calculate % efficiency of machine: [latex]\scriptsize \text{Efficiency (%)}=(AMA\div IMA)\times 100[/latex].
- Draw diagrams and calculate mechanical advantage of levers.
Unit 1 outcomes
By the end of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe simple machines.
- Describe the functions of simple machines.
- State the law of simple machines.
- State and identify examples of six basic machines:
- lever
- wheel and axle
- pulley
- inclined plane
- screw
- wedge.
Unit 2 outcomes
By the end of this unit you will be able to:
- Define ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) as the ratio between the distance through which the effort force moves an object and the distance through which the resistance force moves an object: IMA = distance effort F moves÷ effort resistance F moves.
- Use the law of simple machines in calculations.
- Draw diagrams of a lever where:
- the fulcrum is between the resistance force and the effort force
- the resistance force is between the fulcrum and the effort force
- the effort force is between the fulcrum and the resistance force.
- Calculate mechanical advantage of levers.
Unit 3 outcomes
By the end of this unit you will be able to:
- Define ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) as the ratio between the distance through which the effort force moves an object and the distance through which the resistance force moves an object: IMA = distance effort force ÷ distance resistance force.
- Define actual mechanical advantage (AMA) as the ratio between the resistance force and the effort force: AMA = resistance force ÷ effort force.
- Calculate the relative efficiency of a simple machine: efficiency (%) = (AMA ÷ IMA) x [latex]\scriptsize 100[/latex].
