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].

License

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National Curriculum (Vocational) Physical Science Level 2 by Department of Higher Education and Taining is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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