Machines Flashcards
What is a simple machine?
A basic mechanical device for applying force and changing either its size or direction
What are some
different types of simple machines?
Levers, ramps, pulleys
What is a lever?
A rigid bar that moves around a fixed point so one end can be pushed or pulled to move the other 2nd with a greater or smaller force
What are the four characteristics all levers have?
1) They have a fixed point called a fulcrum
2) The lever pivots around a fulcrum
3) An effort force is applied to the lever
4) the effort force is transferred by the lever to exert a load force that moves or pushes the load
What is a class 1 lever?
A lever in which the fulcrum is between the load and effort.
A class 1 lever is a force multiplier because they are able to magnify the effort force you put in.
Example of a class 1 lever is a crowbar.
What is a class 2 lever?
A lever in which the fulcrum is at one end and the load is between the fulcrum and the effort.
Class 2 levers are force multipliers because they magnify the effort you put in.
An example is a wheelbarrow or bottle openee.
What is a class 2 lever?
A lever in which the fulcrum is at one end and the load is between the fulcrum and the effort.
Class 2 levers are force multipliers because they magnify the effort you put in.
An example is a wheelbarrow.
What is a class 3 lever?
A lever in which the fulcrum is at one end and the effort is between the fulcrum and the load.
Class 3 levers are speed multipliers (not force multipliers). A speed multiplier increases the speed of an object.
An example of a class 3 lever is a tennis racquet.
What does effort mean?
It is the input force to a simple machine
You calculate it by dividing load force by mechanical advantage
What is the load?
It is the object that needs to be moved?
What is the fulcrum?
It’s the point in a lever where a bar is supporter; the lever turns about this point.
What is the mechanical advantage?
It is the ratio of the output force to the input force.
You calculate it like this
How do you measure distances to a fulcrum?
What is a force multiplier?
It’s something that increases the size of the force.
What is a speed multiplier?
It’s something that increases the speed of an object.