Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Simple Machines

There are 6 simple machines or 7 if you include the gear. Here are the primary 6 that are generally refered to in refrence to simple machines.


Pulley
·      The movable decreases the amount of work needed by half. Moves with the load. As it moves, the distance of the string increases by double the amount of the object being moved.

Force through a distance equals work (work = force x distance). It takes two components to make work. Energy can be exerted, however if nothing moves, then work has not been done. Simple machines help work.


Lever
·      A lever needs a load and a fulcrum to work.
·      They change the direction of the force. They do not really give an advantage in terms of exerting less force, however the change in distance is an advantage.
·      A first class lever is similar to a seesaw that would be found on a playground or a walnut cracker. You push down on a first class. The fulcrum is in the middle.
·       A second-class lever is like a wheel barrel. The load is at the bottom and we lift it from the end. The wheel is the fulcrum. It is at the end.
·      A third class lever, the work is applied to the middle. The fulcrum is at the end and the load is at the opposite end. This is similar to a stapler or your arm or a spoon. The load is being lifted up.


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