Unit A: Chapters 1, 2, 3 Flashcards
What are systems? Name and describe the different types of systems.
A system is a group of parts that work together to perform a task. The types of systems are physical and social systems. These can be broken down further into each of the types being either man-made or natural. A physical system is a group of mechanical parts that work together to perform a task. A social system is a group of organisms working together to do something and build relationships. Man-made systems are made by men, and natural systems are found in nature.
Name the system components, and what they are used for.
The system components are a subsystem, mechanism, force, industries, inputs, outputs, side effects and systems thinking. A subsystem is built to help the system perform a task. A mechanism is a part of a subsystem that transfers force, energy, motion, and action. A force is any push or pull. An industry is a group of systems that work together to produce goods or services. An input is the force, energy, and material that you put into a system, while an output is a task or service a system produces. A side effect is an undesired output of a system. Systems thinking is thinking about the inputs, outputs, and side effects of a system.
What is consumerism, and how does it affect our environment?
Consumerism is the belief that your happiness comes from buying goods and services. This negatively affects our environment. Since you believe that you will be happy with all the new gadgets, you will throw away still usable ones, and those are toxic, left in our landfill, eventually getting to our waterways and soil.
What is a simple machine? Name the types of simple machines, and the two main categories they fall in.
A simple machine is a device that has one or two parts, and only needs one force for it to function. The inclined plane, the wedge, the screw, the lever, the wheel and axle, and the pulley. The two main categories are those related to the inclined plane and those related to the lever.
Describe levers and how they work. What are their main parts? List and describe the three classes of levers.
A lever has a fulcrum, load arm, and effort arm. The fulcrum is the pivot point, the load arm is the place where the mass will be moved, and the effort arm is where the force is applied. Input force is the force applied to the lever, and output force is the force the lever applies to the load. Load force is the force the input force must overcome in order for it to lift the mass. Class 1: fulcrum between load/input force, seesaw. Class 2: load between fulcrum/input, wheelbarrow. Class 3: input between fulcrum/load, fishing rod.
What is magnitude, and how does it relate to a Newton?
Magnitude is a measure of the strength of a force. It accompanies, direction, and together, they are the components of a force. A Newton is a unit we use to measure force or its magnitude.
What is mechanical advantage? How is it calculated? What is the difference between actual and ideal MA?
Mechanical advantage is the ratio of output force to the input force. MA is calculated in two ways: effort arm length/load arm length, or input distance/output distance. Ideal MA is not considering the fact that some force is lost. Actual MA does. To calculate actual MA, you do measured output force/measured input force.
What is work, what is energy, and how do you calculate work?
Work is the result when a force moves an object a certain distance. Energy is the ability to apply a force to an object, and make it move. To calculate work, you must do force (Newton) multiplied by distance (meters).
What is mechanical efficiency, and how is it calculated?
Mechanical efficiency is the percent of input work turned into useful output work. Mechanical efficiency is calculated by: output work/input work multiplied by 100%. Mechanical efficiency can never be 100% because some energy is lost.
