IB Design Technology Topic A3.3.3 Mechanical Advantage Revision Notes (HL)

IB Design Technology Topic A3.3.3 Mechanical Advantage Revision Notes (HL) | RevisionDojo

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Mechanical Advantage: Trading Distance for Force

Definition

Mechanical Advantage

The ratio of output force to input force in a mechanical system.

Mechanical advantage (MA) is the factor by which a machine multiplies the force you put in.
An MA greater than 1 means the machine gives out more force than you put in, and an MA less than 1 means it gives out more speed or distance instead.

Note

$$\text{Mechanical Advantage (MA)} = \frac{\text{Load}}{\text{Effort}}$$
Load is the force the machine moves, and Effort is the force you apply.
Because MA is a ratio of two forces, it has no units.
For a lever you can get the same answer from the geometry, by dividing the effort arm by the load arm.

What Mechanical Advantage Buys You

It reduces the effort needed to move or lift something.
It increases the output force you get for a given input.
It lets a person do work that their own muscles could never do unaided, which is why a bottle jack lets one hand lift a car.

Common Mistake

Mechanical advantage does not create energy, it redistributes it.
The force is multiplied, but the distance over which you apply it is divided by the same factor.
That is why the jack handle moves a long way while the car rises a few millimetres, and energy is conserved.

The Simple Systems That Deliver It

A handful of simple systems are the building blocks every complex machine is assembled from.
Each one improves function and efficiency in the same way: it lets a smaller effort do a bigger job.

Inclined Plane

Definition

Inclined Plane

Spreads force over a longer distance, making it easier to lift or move objects.

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Note

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Tip

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Mechanical Advantage: Trading Distance for Force

Definition

Mechanical Advantage

The ratio of output force to input force in a mechanical system.

Mechanical advantage (MA) is the factor by which a machine multiplies the force you put in.
An MA greater than 1 means the machine gives out more force than you put in, and an MA less than 1 means it gives out more speed or distance instead.

Note

$$\text{Mechanical Advantage (MA)} = \frac{\text{Load}}{\text{Effort}}$$
Load is the force the machine moves, and Effort is the force you apply.
Because MA is a ratio of two forces, it has no units.
For a lever you can get the same answer from the geometry, by dividing the effort arm by the load arm.

What Mechanical Advantage Buys You

It reduces the effort needed to move or lift something.
It increases the output force you get for a given input.
It lets a person do work that their own muscles could never do unaided, which is why a bottle jack lets one hand lift a car.

Common Mistake

Mechanical advantage does not create energy, it redistributes it.
The force is multiplied, but the distance over which you apply it is divided by the same factor.
That is why the jack handle moves a long way while the car rises a few millimetres, and energy is conserved.

The Simple Systems That Deliver It

A handful of simple systems are the building blocks every complex machine is assembled from.
Each one improves function and efficiency in the same way: it lets a smaller effort do a bigger job.

Inclined Plane

Definition

Inclined Plane

Spreads force over a longer distance, making it easier to lift or move objects.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

A. Design in theory8 subtopics

B. Design in practice8 subtopics

C. Design in context8 subtopics

IB Design Technology Topic A3.3.3: Mechanical Advantage Notes

A. Design in theory8 subtopics

B. Design in practice8 subtopics

C. Design in context8 subtopics

Mechanical Advantage: Trading Distance for Force

What Mechanical Advantage Buys You

The Simple Systems That Deliver It

Inclined Plane

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Mechanical Advantage: Trading Distance for Force

What Mechanical Advantage Buys You

The Simple Systems That Deliver It

Inclined Plane

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account