Machine- A device that makes work easier by changing the speed , direction, or amount of a
force.
Simple Machine- A device that performs work with only one movement. Simple machines
include lever, wheel and axle, inclined plane, screw, and wedge.
Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA)- A machine in which work in equals work out; such a
machine would be frictionless and a100% efficient
IMA=
De/Dr
Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA)- It is pretty much the opposite of IMA meaning it is
not 100% efficient and it has friction.
AMA= Fr/Fe
Efficiency- The amount of work put into a machine compared to how much useful work is put
out by the machine; always between 0% and 100%.
Friction- The force that resist motion between two surfaces that are touching each
other.
What do we use machines for?
Machines are used for many things. Machines are used in everyday life just to make
things easier. You use many machines in a day that you might take for granted. For
example a simple ordinary broom is a machine. It is a form of a lever. Our country or
world would never be this evolved if it wasn't for machine. Almost every thing we do has
a machine involved. We use machines to manufacture goods, for transportation, ect.
In the W=F*d equation the trade of between force and distance is as you use a machine
the force goes down and distance goes up. If there was no friction they would be equal
and trade.
There are six simple machines. They are a lever, pulleys, inclined plain, wheel and
axle, screw, and wedge. The lever is used very often an example of a lever is a broom.
Your hand is the fulcrum and when you sweep it is a lever. A lever consist of a fulcrum,
effort, and resistance. A pulley is used to lift or pull objects with a advantage. To
get a advantage it matters how many lines are going to the load. For example if there is
3 lines to the load it is a 3/1 advantage. A inclined plain is used to lift an object
easier but with more work. Instead of lifting it straight up you push it a greater
distance but with less force. A screw is a inclined plain wrapped around a cylinder
post. Its like a ramp around the screw.
A wedge is a inclined plain with one or two sloping sides. Chisels, knives, and ax blades
are examples of wedges.
IMA is ideal mechanical advantage meaning a frictionless world with 100% efficiency. It
is saying that work in and work out are exactly the same. AMA is Actual Mechanical
advantage meaning there is friction in the machine and the efficiency could range from 0%
to 99%. The difference between the two is one has friction and more efficient and the
other isn't.
Machines can never be 100% efficient because of friction. In a Ideal world there is no
friction but we don't live in a ideal world. We have friction and efficiency is not
always high or low but it is never 100%.
Added discussion
Believe it or not your arm is a simple machine. Your arm is a form of lever. The muscles
and bones work together as levers. The two bones in your forearm act as the bar of the
lever. Your elbow is the fulcrum of your lever. When you contract your biceps, this
muscle exerts an effort force on the forearm bones to pull upward. the entire forearm is
the resistance force.
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