Machines

 A device that makes work easier.

 A machine can change the size, the
direction, or the distance over which a
force acts.
Some Definitions:
Energy: Ability to do work

Work= Force x Distance

Force: A Push or a Pull
Simple Machines

 6 different types of simple machines:

1.) the lever
2.) the wheel and axle
3.) the inclined plane
4.) the wedge
5.) the screw
6.) the pulley
1. The Lever

 A bar that is free to pivot, or move about

a fixed point when an input force is
applied.
 Fulcrum = the pivot point of a lever.
 There are three classes of levers based
on the positioning of the effort (effort
force), Load (resistance force) and
fulcrum.
 First Class Lever

Fulcrum is between EF (effort) and RF (load)

Effort moves farther than Resistance.
Multiplies EF and changes its direction

The mechanical advantage of a lever is the ratio of the length

of the lever on the applied force side of the fulcrum to the
length of the lever on the resistance force side of the fulcrum.
 First-Class Lever
• The position of the fulcrum
identifies a first-class lever.
- The fulcrum of a first-class lever is
ALWAYS located between the input
force (effort) and the output force (load
or resistance)

• Depending on position of fulcrum, MA

of first-class lever can be greater than
1, equal to 1, or less than 1
First Class Lever
.
 Common examples
of first-class levers
include crowbars,
scissors, pliers, tin
snips and seesaws.
Which ones are first-class
levers?
 Second-Class Levers
• Output force (load) is located
BETWEEN the effort (input
force) and the fulcrum
 Second Class Lever

RF (load) is between fulcrum and EF (effort)

Effort moves farther than Resistance.
Multiplies EF, but does not change its direction

The mechanical advantage of a lever is the ratio of the

distance from the applied force to the fulcrum to the
distance from the resistance force to the fulcrum.
 Example of second-class
lever
When you lift handles of
wheelbarrow, it rotates
around its fulcrum

Input distance greater than

output distance

Increased input distance

means it takes LESS force
from you to lift the load

MA of a second-class lever is
always greater than 1
 Second Class Lever
 Examples of
second-class
levers include
nut crackers,
wheel barrows,
doors, and
bottle openers.
 Third-Class Levers
Effort (Input force) is located
between the fulcrum and the load
(output force)
Third Class Lever
 Examples of
third-class
levers include
tweezers, arm
hammers, and
shovels.
Wheel & Axle

 Consists of 2 discs or cylinders, each one

with a different radius.
wheel

axle Can have MA greater than or less

than 1

Would the MA for the steering wheel be greater than or less than 1?
Greater than 1: input distance larger than output distance
WHEEL AND AXEL
 The axle is stuck
rigidly to a large
wheel. Fan blades
are attached to the
wheel. When the
axel turns, the fan
blades spin.
GEARS-Wheel and Axel
 Each gear in a
series reverses the
direction of
rotation of the
previous gear. The
smaller gear will
always turn faster
than the larger
gear.
Inclined Planes
 An inclined plane is
a flat surface that is
higher on one end
 Inclined planes
make the work of
moving things easier
Inclined Planes
 Imagine how hard it would be to walk up the side of a
steep hill.
 It would be MUCH easier to follow a gentle slope of a
winding trail….why is this?

What is happening to input distance if

you decide to take the curvy trail
instead of going straight up the hill?

Because input distance is greater

than output distance, in this case, the
input force is decreased…..so it’s
easier for you!
Inclined Planes

 Inclined plane: a slanted surface along

which a force moves an object to a
different elevation
Input distance
Output distance
Inclined Planes

 What is the MA of the following inclined

plane?

6m
1m

Mechanical Advantage = 6

MA for inclined plane will NEVER be less than 1

Inclined Plane
 The Egyptians used simple machines to build the
pyramids. One method was to build a very long
incline out of dirt that rose upward to the top of the
pyramid very gently. The blocks of stone were
placed on large logs (another type of simple machine
- the wheel and axle) and pushed slowly up the long,
gentle inclined plane to the top of the pyramid.
Wedge

Why did Samurai’s feel it was so

important to keep their blade
sharp?

They wanted to have the highest

MA possible!

Sharpening the sword increases

MA (just like having a thinner
wedge in the wood worked better
than a thicker one)
Wedges
 Two inclined
planes joined
back to back.
 Wedges are used
to split things.
Screws

 Screw: an inclined plane wrapped around

a cylinder
Which screw would be easier to put into a
piece of wood?
- A screw with the threads very close
together or a screw with the threads
somewhat far apart
- The screw with threads CLOSE together!
threads
- Though it would take you less turns for
the screw with fewer threads, it would
require you to exert a greater force

- Screws with threads that are closer

together have a greater MA
4. The Wedge

 An inclined plane
that moves.
 Examples: knife, axe,
razor blade
 Mechanical
advantage is
increased by
sharpening it.
5. The Screw

 An inclined plane
wrapped around a
cylinder.
 The closer the
threads, the greater
the mechanical
advantage
 Examples: bolts,
augers, drill bits
 Wedges & Screws

 Similar to inclined planes BUT sloping

surfaces can move.
 Wedge: a V-shaped object whose sides
are two inclined planes sloped toward
each other.
A thin wedge of a given
Length of wedge is divided by
length has a greater MA than
width of the opening. Smaller
thick wedge of the same
the opening (thickness), the
length. Why is this so?
larger your MA will be
Examples: knife, axe, razor
blade
6. The Pulley

 A chain, belt , or rope

wrapped around a
wheel.
 Can either change
the direction or the
amount of effort force
 Ex. Flag pole, blinds,
stage curtain
Pulleys
 Pulley are wheels
and axles with a
groove around the
outside
 A pulley needs a
rope, chain or belt
around the groove
to make it do work
 Diagrams of Pulleys
Fixed pulley:
A fixed pulley changes the
direction of a force;
however, it does not create
a mechanical advantage.

Movable Pulley: The mechanical advantage

of a moveable pulley is
equal to the number of
ropes that support the
moveable pulley.
Rube Goldberg Machines
 Rube Goldberg machines are
examples of complex machines.
 All complex machines are made
up of combinations of simple
machines.
 Rube Goldberg machines are
usually a complicated combination
of simple machines.
 By studying the components of
Rube Goldberg machines, we
learn more about simple machines
 A combination of two or more simple
machines.
 Cannot get more work out of a compound
machine than is put in.