# 9.5 Simple machines  (Page 3/4)

 Page 3 / 4

An ordinary pulley has an MA of 1; it only changes the direction of the force and not its magnitude. Combinations of pulleys, such as those illustrated in [link] , are used to multiply force. If the pulleys are friction-free, then the force output is approximately an integral multiple of the tension in the cable. The number of cables pulling directly upward on the system of interest, as illustrated in the figures given below, is approximately the MA of the pulley system. Since each attachment applies an external force in approximately the same direction as the others, they add, producing a total force that is nearly an integral multiple of the input force $T$ .

## Section summary

• Simple machines are devices that can be used to multiply or augment a force that we apply – often at the expense of a distance through which we have to apply the force.
• The ratio of output to input forces for any simple machine is called its mechanical advantage
• A few simple machines are the lever, nail puller, wheelbarrow, crank, etc.

## Conceptual questions

Scissors are like a double-lever system. Which of the simple machines in [link] and [link] is most analogous to scissors?

Suppose you pull a nail at a constant rate using a nail puller as shown in [link] . Is the nail puller in equilibrium? What if you pull the nail with some acceleration – is the nail puller in equilibrium then? In which case is the force applied to the nail puller larger and why?

Why are the forces exerted on the outside world by the limbs of our bodies usually much smaller than the forces exerted by muscles inside the body?

Explain why the forces in our joints are several times larger than the forces we exert on the outside world with our limbs. Can these forces be even greater than muscle forces (see previous Question)?

## Problems&Exercises

What is the mechanical advantage of a nail puller—similar to the one shown in [link] —where you exert a force $\text{45 cm}$ from the pivot and the nail is $\text{1.8 cm}$ on the other side? What minimum force must you exert to apply a force of $\text{1250 N}$ to the nail?

25

50 N

Suppose you needed to raise a 250-kg mower a distance of 6.0 cm above the ground to change a tire. If you had a 2.0-m long lever, where would you place the fulcrum if your force was limited to 300 N?

a) What is the mechanical advantage of a wheelbarrow, such as the one in [link] , if the center of gravity of the wheelbarrow and its load has a perpendicular lever arm of 5.50 cm, while the hands have a perpendicular lever arm of 1.02 m? (b) What upward force should you exert to support the wheelbarrow and its load if their combined mass is 55.0 kg? (c) What force does the wheel exert on the ground?

a) $\text{MA}=\text{18}\text{.}5$

b) ${F}_{\text{i}}=\text{29.1 N}$

c) 510 N downward

A typical car has an axle with $1\text{.}\text{10 cm}$ radius driving a tire with a radius of $\text{27}\text{.5 cm}$ . What is its mechanical advantage assuming the very simplified model in [link] (b)?

What force does the nail puller in [link] exert on the supporting surface? The nail puller has a mass of 2.10 kg.

$1\text{.}\text{3}×{\text{10}}^{3}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{N}$

If you used an ideal pulley of the type shown in [link] (a) to support a car engine of mass $\text{115 kg}$ , (a) What would be the tension in the rope? (b) What force must the ceiling supply, assuming you pull straight down on the rope? Neglect the pulley system’s mass.

Repeat [link] for the pulley shown in [link] (c), assuming you pull straight up on the rope. The pulley system’s mass is $\text{7.00 kg}$ .

a) $T=\text{299 N}$

b) 897 N upward

#### Questions & Answers

what is displacement
movement in a direction
Jason
Explain why magnetic damping might not be effective on an object made of several thin conducting layers separated by insulation? can someone please explain this i need it for my final exam
Hi
saeid
hi
Yimam
What is thê principle behind movement of thê taps control
what is atomic mass
this is the mass of an atom of an element in ratio with the mass of carbon-atom
Chukwuka
show me how to get the accuracies of the values of the resistors for the two circuits i.e for series and parallel sides
Explain why it is difficult to have an ideal machine in real life situations.
tell me
Promise
what's the s . i unit for couple?
Promise
its s.i unit is Nm
Covenant
Force×perpendicular distance N×m=Nm
Oluwakayode
İt iş diffucult to have idêal machine because of FRİCTİON definitely reduce thê efficiency
Oluwakayode
if the classica theory of specific heat is valid,what would be the thermal energy of one kmol of copper at the debye temperature (for copper is 340k)
can i get all formulas of physics
yes
haider
what affects fluid
pressure
Oluwakayode
Dimension for force MLT-2
what is the dimensions of Force?
how do you calculate the 5% uncertainty of 4cm?
4cm/100×5= 0.2cm
haider
how do you calculate the 5% absolute uncertainty of a 200g mass?
= 200g±(5%)10g
haider
use the 10g as the uncertainty?
melia
which topic u discussing about?
haider
topic of question?
haider
the relationship between the applied force and the deflection
melia
sorry wrong question i meant the 5% uncertainty of 4cm?
melia
its 0.2 cm or 2mm
haider
thank you
melia
Hello group...
Chioma
hi
haider
well hello there
sean
hi
Noks
hii
Chibueze
10g
Olokuntoye
0.2m
Olokuntoye
hi guys
thomas
the meaning of phrase in physics
is the meaning of phrase in physics
Chovwe
write an expression for a plane progressive wave moving from left to right along x axis and having amplitude 0.02m, frequency of 650Hz and speed if 680ms-¹