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Flip to reveal answersHow is mechanical advantage found on each mechanism?
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All 4 Flashcards — Calculating MA
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Question
How is mechanical advantage found on each mechanism?
Answer
Lever: effort arm ÷ load arm. Gears: driven teeth ÷ driver teeth. Belt: driven diameter ÷ driver diameter. Pulley block: the number of rope falls supporting the moving block.
Question
What happens when mechanism stages are put in series?
Answer
The ratios multiply. Stages of 15 and 6 give an overall MA of 90, not 21.
Question
When is an MA below 1 deliberate?
Answer
When speed or reach matters more than force — tweezers, a fishing rod, a broom, the human forearm.
Question
Why is the delivered MA always below the calculated one?
Answer
The calculation is pure geometry; friction at pivots, bearings and gear teeth takes a share of the effort before it reaches the load.
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Topic 7.3 hub
Mechanical systems applied
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