Simple Lifting Machines

Simple Machine – A machine is a device that can lift heavy load by applying less
effort as compare to load.
Compound Machine – It is a machine which consists of combination of one or
more than one simple machine
Uses or advantages of Simple Machine
1) To lift heavy loads which is not possible manually.
2) To minimize human efforts.

Effort (P) - The force which is applied to lift a load is called as effort (P). OR The
force which is applied to overcome the resistance is called as effort (P).

Load (W) – The weight to be lifted with the help of machine is called as load (W).
OR The resistive force to be overcome with the help of machine is called as load
(W).

Points to remember
i) Magnitude of effort is always small as compare to the load.
ii) Magnitude of load is always more than the effort.
iii) Unit of Load and Effort is Newton (N)

Velocity Ratio (V.R.) – It is defined as distance travelled by the effort to the

distance travelled by the load.
𝐷i𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡
∴ 𝑉. 𝑅. =
𝐷i𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
𝑋
∴ 𝑉. 𝑅. =
𝑌
wℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝑋 = 𝑑i𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡.
𝑌 = 𝐷i𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑.

Mechanical Advantage (M.A.) – It is defined as the ratio of load to be lifted to the

effort applied.

𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 (W)
∴ 𝑀. 𝐴. =
𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡 (𝑃)
W
∴ 𝑀. 𝐴. =
𝑃
Input – The amount of work done by the effort is called as input
∴ 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 = 𝑃 × 𝑋

wℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝑃 = 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡

𝑋 = 𝐷i𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡

Output – The amount of work done by the load is called as Output

∴ 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 = W × 𝑌

wℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, W = 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑

𝑋 = 𝐷i𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

Efficiency –The ratio of output to input is called as the efficiency of a machine. It
is denoted by 5
𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
∴5= × 100
𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡

Note – Efficiency is always less than 100% due to frictional resistance.

Therefore, output is always less than input.

Efficiency of a machine can also be defined as ratio of mechanical advantage

(M.A.) to the velocity ratio (V.R.).
𝑀. 𝐴.
∴5= × 100
𝑉. 𝑅.
Note – Efficiency is always less than 100% due to frictional resistance.
Therefore, M.A. is always less than V.R.

Actual Machine – The machine whose efficiency is always less than 100% due to
frictional resistance offered by the different moving components of the machine is
called as actual machine,
For such machines, 5 < 100% and therefore 𝑀. 𝐴. < 𝑉. 𝑅.

Ideal Machine – The machine whose efficiency is always 100% and in which
frictional resistance is totally absent is called as ideal machine.
For such machines, 5 = 100% and therefore 𝑀. 𝐴. = 𝑉. 𝑅.
Note – Practically the machine can never be ideal.
Characteristic of an ideal machine
1. Efficiency of an machine is 100%
2. Machine is completely frictionless.
3. Velocity ratio is equal to mechanical advantage.
4. Input is equal to output.

Ideal effort (Pi) – The effort which is required to lift the load when there is no
friction, is called as ideal effort (Pi).

W
𝑃i =
𝑉. 𝑅.
Effort lost in friction (Pf)

𝑃ƒ = 𝑃 − 𝑃i
W
𝑃ƒ = 𝑃 −
𝑉. 𝑅.
Note – Actual effort (P) is always greater than ideal effort (Pi)

Ideal load (Wi) – The load which can be lifted by an effort, when there is no
friction, is called as ideal load (Wi).

Wi = 𝑃 × 𝑉. 𝑅.

Load lost in friction (Wf)

Wƒ = Wi − W

Wƒ = 𝑃 × 𝑉. 𝑅. −W

Note – Actual load (W) is always less than ideal Load (Wi).

Law of Machine – The equation which gives the relation between load lifted and
effort applied in the form of slope and intercept of a straight line is called as law
of machine.

𝑃 = 𝑚W + 𝐶

Where, P = Effort required

m = Slope of the line AB

W = Load lifted

C = Intercept on Y-axis
 1
𝑀𝑎𝗑i𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑀. 𝐴. =
𝑚
1
% 𝑀𝑎𝗑i𝑚𝑢𝑚 y = × 100
𝑚 × 𝑉. 𝑅.
𝑀𝑎𝗑i𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑀. 𝐴.
% 𝑀𝑎𝗑i𝑚𝑢𝑚 y = × 100
𝑉. 𝑅.
Reversible Machine – A machine which is capable of doing the work in reverse
direction even after the removal of effort is called as reversible machine. Such
action is called as reversibility of machine.

Condition of reversibility - %y > 50%

Non-Reversible Machine – A machine which is not capable of doing the work in
reverse direction even after the removal of effort is called as Non-Reversible
machine. It is also called as self-locking machine.

Condition of Non-Reversibility - %y < 50%

Problem 1 : To lift a load of 1500 N an effort 200 N is applied to a machine. The load is lifted by
a distance of 0.2 m while the effort is moved by a distance of 2 m. Find the velocity ratio,
mechanical advantage and efficiency of the machine. Find also ideal effort, effort lost due to
friction, ideal load and frictional force.
Solution : Load lifted (W) = 1500 N
Effort applied (P) = 200 N
Distance moved by the load, x = 0.2 m
Distance moved by the effort, y = 2 m
(1) Velocity ratio is given by,
V.R. = 2/0.2= 10
(ii) Mechanical advantage is given by,
M.A. = W/P = 1500/200 = 7.5
(iii) Efficiency of the machine is given by,
n = M.A./V.R. = 7.5/10 =0.75 or, 75%
(iv) Ideal effort, P, = W/V.R = 1500 /10= 150 N
(v) Effort lost due to friction,
Fp = P - Pi; = (200 - 150) N = 50 N
(vi) Ideal load, Wi= P x (V.R.) = 200 x 10 = 2000 N
(vii) Frictional force, Fw = Wi -W = (2000 - 1500) N = 500 N.