Introduction to Simple Machines Lecture Notes I. Simple Machine: Is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force.

In general, a simple machine can be defined as one of the simplest mechanisms that provide mechanical advantage, also called leverage. Note simple machines do not create energy, only alter it. A. Five uses: 1. Machines can transform energy. (Though very inefficient, a solar panel transforms solar energy into electrical energy.) 2. Machines can transfer energy from one place to another. (The connecting rods, crankshaft, drive shaft, and rear axle of an automobile transfer energy from the engine to the rear wheels.) 3. Machines can multiply force. (A door knob requires less force to turn the knob than the shaft alone.) 4. Machines can multiply speed. (Through a series of gears on a bicycle, we can gain speed by exerting a greater force.) 5. Machines can change the direction of force. (A downward force on a fixed pulley in turn causes an upward force.) B. Types: 1. Lever: A lever is a machine consisting of a beam or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed hinge, or fulcrum. A lever amplifies an input force to provide a greater output force, which is said to provide leverage. 2. Pulley: A pulley is a wheel on an axle that is designed to support movement of a cable or belt along its circumference. Pulleys are used in a variety of ways to lift loads, apply forces, and to transmit power. 3. Wheel and axle: The wheel and axle is generally considered to be a wheel attached to an axle so that these two parts rotate together in which a force is transferred from one to the other. 4. Inclined plane: An inclined plane is a flat supporting surface tilted at an angle, with one end higher than the other, used as an aid for raising or lowering a load. Moving an object up an inclined plane requires less force than lifting it straight up, at a cost of an increase in the distance moved. 5. Wedge: A wedge is a triangular shaped tool, a compound and portable inclined plane of a wedge is given by the ratio of the length of its slope to its width. 6. Screw: A screw is a mechanism that converts rotational motion to linear motion, and a torque (rotational force) to a linear force. The most common form consists of a cylindrical shaft with helical grooves or ridges called threads around the outside. II. Mechanical Advantage: Is a measure of the force amplification achieved by using a tool, mechanical device or machine system (all of which are mechanism). A. Types: 1. Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA): Or theoretical mechanical advantage, is the mechanical advantage of a device with the assumption that its components do not flex, there is no friction and no wear. Note the power into the machine thus equals the power out. *(The mechanical advantage of a machine if there were no friction.)

2. Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA): Is the mechanical advantage determined by physical measurement of the input and output forces. Actual mechanical advantage takes into account energy loss due to deflection, friction, and wear. The AMA of a machine is calculated as the ratio of the measured force output to the measured force input. *(The number of times a machine increases force with environmental factors included such as friction.)

This rulemechanical advantage equals resistance divided by effort applies to all machines. B. Efficiency: Can be determined by dividing the AMA by the IMA of a mechanism. (Eta )

1. The Ideal Mechanical Advantage (AMA) of a mechanism can never be reached, hence the word theoretical. This is partly due to the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics which states: Entropy i.e. the disorder in the Universe, must increase with time. Meaning that no system can be 100% efficient due to environmental factors such as friction. III. Vocabulary and Conversions: A. Energy: Is the capacity of a physical system to perform work. Energy exists in several forms such as heat, kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy, electrical, or other forms. B. Work: In the mechanical sense, is done when a resistance is overcome by a force acting through a measurable distance. Work equals force multiplied by distance. C. Power: Energy transfer can be used to do work, so power is also the rate at which this work is performed.