A simple machine makes it easier to move things.
An example of a simple machine
is using wheels which reduce friction/drag . Other examples are force multipliers:
3
Force multiplier 1: Pulleys
Or
Input
Force
100N
load
If we lift a 100 Newton load 0.1 m the work done on the load is calculated by multiplying
…………….. by …………….. = ……….. Joules. Compared to lifting manually, if we use pulleys to lift
the 100N load by 0.1m the work done on the load will be the same/ decrease/ increase.
Having more pulleys means we have to pull the string further/ not as far than 0.1m, so, the
amount of force we need to pull it with increases/ decreases. If we use two pulleys, the
distance the string has to move doubles, so, the force we need to pull with will
halve/double/ stay the same.
This is useful because we can lift heavy objects with a small/large force. Also, pulleys make
it easier because the input force is applied upwards/downwards which means we can use
our weight to help us pull the object.
Extension, complete in exercise book once you have completed the rest of sheet:
1.We want to lift the 100N load by 0.1m.
If we have two pulleys the distance we would have to move the string would be 0.2m.
How big a force do you predict we would need? Explain why.
2.How many pulleys would we need so that we could use a force of 20N to lift the
load? How far would we have to pull the string to lift the load 0.1m?
3.Explain why in reality the work done by the person would be slightly bigger than the
work done on the load. (CLUE: the person is not 100% efficient at lifting)
Force multiplier 2: Levers
When the input force and the load are the same distance from the pivot (pivot in the
middle) the input force will have to move a smaller/ a bigger/ the same distance
(compared to the load). The work done by input force is the same as the output force,
so the input force will be smaller than/ bigger than/ the same as the output force.
Levers act as force multipliers when the pivot is closer to the load.
This means the effort force will have to move a smaller/ a bigger/ the same
distance as the load. The work done will be the same so, the effort force will be
smaller than/ bigger than/ the same as the load.
EXTENSION Complete in exercise book:
1. Explain why levers and pulleys are called force multipliers.
2. Explain what we mean by the conservation of energy and use either levers or pulleys to
explain how they support this law.
3. Design a lever or a pulley system that gives a four times force multiplication. Include
measurements for your invention and a small advert including calculations that prove
that a 10N effort (input) force would give a 40N load (output) force.
A simple machine makes it easier to move things. An example of a simple machine
is using wheels which reduce friction/drag . Other examples are force multipliers:
3
Force multiplier 1: Pulleys
Or
Input
Force
100N
load
If we lift a 100 Newton load 0.1 m the work done on the load is calculated by multiplying
…………….. by …………….. = ……….. Joules. Compared to lifting manually, if we use pulleys to lift
the 100N load by 0.1m the work done on the load will be the same/ decrease/ increase.
Having more pulleys means we have to pull the string further/ not as far than 0.1m, so, the
amount of force we need to pull it with increases/ decreases. If we use two pulleys, the
distance the string has to move doubles, so, the force we need to pull with will
halve/double/ stay the same.
This is useful because we can lift heavy objects with a small/large force. Also, pulleys make
it easier because the input force is applied upwards/downwards which means we can use
our weight to help us pull the object.
Extension, complete in exercise book once you have completed the rest of sheet:
1.We want to lift the 100N load by 0.1m.
If we have two pulleys the distance we would have to move the string would be 0.2m.
How big a force do you predict we would need? Explain why.
2.How many pulleys would we need so that we could use a force of 20N to lift the
load? How far would we have to pull the string to lift the load 0.1m?
3.Explain why in reality the work done by the person would be slightly bigger than the
work done on the load. (CLUE: the person is not 100% efficient at lifting)
Force multiplier 2: Levers
With the pivot in the middle, the input force and the load are the same distance from
the pivot and the input force will have to move a smaller/ a bigger/ the same
distance (compared to the load). The work done by the input force is the same as the
output force, so the input force will be smaller than/ bigger than/ the same as the
output force.
When the pivot is closer to the load, the effort force will have to move
a smaller/ a bigger/ the same distance as the load. The work done will be the same
so, the effort force will be smaller than/ bigger than/ the same as the load.
EXTENSION Complete in exercise book:
1. Explain why levers and pulleys are called force multipliers.
2. Explain what we mean by the conservation of energy and use either levers or pulleys to
explain how they support this law.
3. Design a lever or a pulley system that gives a four times force multiplication. Include
measurements for your invention and a small advert including calculations that prove
that a 10N effort (input) force would give a 40N load (output) force.
3
So, if we want to make the effort force smaller, which makes it easier for us to lift something
we should have the pivot ………………………………………………………………………
Pulleys
Everytime we lift a 100 Newton weight by 0.1 m the energy transferred is always the
same/ increase/ decreases. Having more pulleys means the distance we have to
pull the string increases/ decreases so the amount of force we need to pull it with
increases/ decreases
Questions
1 Label the effort, load, and pivot in the following scenarios.
2 Calculate the work done when a book of 3 N is lifted from the floor to a table of
height 0.7 m.
Use the equation: work done (J) = force (N) × distance (m). Show your working.
3 Use your observations to suggest why levers are used to lift heavy objects. Explain your
answer using as many scientific terms as possible.
4 Why are levers and pulleys are called force multipliers.
3
5 Explain what we mean by the conservation of energy and use either levers or pulleys to
explain how they support this law.
Complete questions on page 47 in your exercise book.
EXTENSION:
Design a lever or a pulley system that gives a four times force multiplication.
Include measurements for your invention and a small advert including
calculations that prove that a 10N effort (input) force would give a 40N load
(output) force.
