JC: Science Unit 6
Lesson 4
Machines
i Introduction
Usually when the word machine is mentioned we think of very big complex pieces of metals
that carry out big things. In reality, there are such huge machines, but there are also simpler
machines that we use on a daily basis. The purpose of machines is to reduce the amount of
force that we apply when we carry out work. Machines make our work a lot easier such that
they magnify the force that we put. To magnify means that machines multiply our input force
we use when doing work. In this unit you are going to learn about simple machines and you
are also going to learn more about forces applied when using these machines.
Carry out the tasks you are required to do in this lesson and answer the self-assessment
exercise at the end of the lesson. Since this is the last lesson of unit 6, there is a unit
assignment that covers all the work you did from lesson one up to here, as soon as you
complete it, make sure you submit it to your tutor for marking and feedback.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson you should be able to:
• use simple machines in daily life situations
• demonstrate the ability of levers and inclined planes to exert a magnified or
reduced force
• discuss applications of simple machines in everyday life
• describe the moment of a force
• identify moments of force in everyday life situations
• demonstrate the principles of moments
• calculate the moment of a force about a fixed point
Lesson contents Pages
1.0 Simple machines 58
2.0 Turning effects of forces 64
Summary 67
Glossary 67
Self -assessment exercise 4 68
57 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 6
1.0 Simple Machines
I hope we have all seen machines in our respective homes or somewhere. A machine is any
device made to make our work easier. Work done is the amount of energy used to move an
object. When we find the amount of work done we use the formula given below:
Work = Force x Distance
Note that: The units used for work done are Joules.
The units for force are Newtons and the distance is obtained in metres.
When using machines the person using the machine applies a small amount of force, and then
the machine gives out a large amount of force. For example, in a washing machine, the input
force is applied only when pressing a button, and then the machine does the work of cleaning
the dirty clothes. The machine helps to magnify the input force. Let us define the input force
and the output force: The input force is the force exerted before the work is done and the out-
put force is the one the carries out the work.
This is shown in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1: Magnification of forces by simple machines
Source: [Link] machines
Machines can be placed in groups, depending on how they make the work easier. Some ma-
chines multiply force, while others multiply distance.
(a) Force multipliers
A small input force applied over a long distance is changed into a large output force over a
short distance. Examples of machines that multiply force are pliers, spanners, scissors and tin
openers.
(b) Distance multipliers
A large input force over a short distance is changed into a small output force over a longer
distance.
Examples of machines that multiply distance are egg beater and forceps.
Learner, do you know these simple machines? An egg beater is a machine that mixes eggs
using very fast rotating movements. It is usually used by bakers when mixing eggs and other
things or ingredients while a forceps is a scissor-like instrument, used by doctors to hold
small bandages and cloths dipped in medicine when they clean our wounds.
58 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 6
Let us see how much of the lesson you have by doing the activity below:
Activity 1
Spend 5 minutes on this activity
1. Using the formula given for work done, calculate the work done by a man
using a force of 600N to push a car for 20 m.
Feedback to Activity 1
1. Work done = force x distance
= 600N x 20 m
= 1 200Nm (1 Nm = 1 Joule)
Work done = 1 200 Joules
The ratio of the input force to the output force is called the mechanical advantage of the
machine.
Mechanical advantage = output force/ input force
MA = Fout /Fin
Example: Supposing a machine gives out 50N of force when only 10N of force was applied
by a person as the input force. The machine’s mechanical advantage would be:
MA = Fout /Fin
= 50 N/ 10 N
MA = 5
Now let us proceed to find out more about the different types of simple machines.
1.1 Types of simple machines
There are several types of simple machines and the following are some of them:
• Levers
• Pulleys
• Inclined planes
• Wheel and axle
• Gears
59 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 6
Let us now discuss in detail each of these simple machines below:
(a) Levers
Levers are the most common types of simple machines. Some of the machines you are
familiar with that are levers are wheelbarrows, hammers, crowbars, scissors, bottle openers
and spades. Learner let us see why these implements are referred to as levers.
In levers one has to apply an input force, which we refer to as the effort, to move an object or
load through a turning point or fulcrum. The fulcrum can also be called a pivot because it is
the point at which the force applied lifts or turns the load.
All levers have:
• Effort
• Load
• Fulcrum
Figure 2 shown below should give you an idea of how a typical lever looks like; they look
like see-saws. Learner, do you know what a see-saw is? A see-saw is a long plank balanced
in the middle on a fixed support, each end on which children sit and swing up and down.
When one side of the turning point goes up, the other side goes down.
Figure 2: Lever
Source: [Link]
There are three types of levers called class 1 levers, Class 2 levers and Class 3 levers. The
type of lever depends on the positions of the load, fulcrum and effort.
(i) Class 1 levers
The fulcrum is found between the load and the effort.
Figure 3: Class 1 lever
Source: [Link]
60 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 6
Examples of class 1 levers are crowbar and pliers.
(ii) Class 2 levers
The load is found between the pivot and the effort.
Figure 4: Class 2 lever
Source: [Link]
Examples of class 2 levers are wheelbarrow and nut cracker.
(iii) Class 3 levers
The effort is found between the pivot and the load.
Figure 6: Class 3 lever
Source: [Link]
Examples of class 3 levers are Spade and fishing rod.
Learner, do you know that your arm can act as a lever that multiplies distance? Whatever ob-
ject you lift is the load, the fulcrum is at the elbow and the effort is the force applied by your
biceps muscle. This makes your arm a class 1 lever!
61 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 6
(b) Inclined plane
This type of simple machine helps to move loads from lower places to higher places along
slopes. Figure 6 below shows an inclined plane.
Figure 6: Inclined plane
[Link]
In inclined planes the mechanical advantage is calculated by dividing the length of the plane
with the height of the plane.
Mechanical advantage = Length of the plane/ Height of the plane
Example: A man rolls a drum up a 28 m slope to a height of 7 m. Find the mechanical
advantage.
MA = Slope length/ Plane height
= 28 m/7 m
MA = 4
The mechanical advantage of the inclined plane when moving a drum along a 28 m slope to a
height of 7 m is 4.
(c) Pulley
Pulleys are made in such a way that a rope or a chain is wound around a wheel. This rope/
chain is the one used to lift heavy objects such as car engines in garages and loads of bricks
in construction sites. When using pulleys the effort is reduced when more than one wheel is
used. There are two types of pulleys; these are fixed pulleys and moving pulleys.
Figure 7: Pulley
[Link]
62 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 6
(i) Fixed pulleys
The wheel in the pulley does not move, movement of the load changes a downward force into
an upward force when the rope or chain is pulled around the wheel. In this case movement is
only on the rope/chain and the load and the effort applied is on a downward direction.
(ii) Moving pulleys
The wheel in the pulley moves as the rope/chain also moves, bringing along the load as well.
Movement is on all parts of the pulley, the load is brought to a higher place or its direction is
changed and the effort is usually applied in an upward direction.
(d) Wheel and axle
This type of simple machine is a wheel that is attached to a bar. As the wheel is turned, the
bar is able to move the load over vertical distance or over horizontal distances. We find
examples of wheel and axle in car steering wheels, screwdrivers and in boreholes that were
used back in the seventies and eighties where one had to use a bucket attached to a rope to
draw water from underground.
Figure 8: Wheel and axle
Source: [Link]
(e) Gears
In a similar way to pulleys, the rope in a pulley can be substituted with a wheel that has teeth
like structures around the edge. The teeth like structures have to fit those of another wheel as
shown in Figure 10 shown below.
Figure 9: Gears
Source: [Link]
63 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 6
When one wheel turns, it turns another wheel it is joined with. One of the wheels has to be
joined to a load that will be moved by the turning motion. The number of teeth like structures
on the wheels determines the rate of turning of the wheels. Gears are used mostly in vehicles
like cars and bicycles. They determine the speed at which the vehicle travels.
Now that you have learnt about the different types of machines, let us proceed to learn about
turning effects of forces
2.0 Turning Effects of Forces
Learners in Unit 5 you learned about the effects of forces. Remember that forces are able to
do several things. They can: Change the shape of objects, start movement on an object that
was stationary, stop moving objects and also change the direction of moving objects. We are
now going to look closely at forces moving objects.
When forces change the direction of objects, we say that they have a turning effect and this
turning effect is called moment of a force. The moment of a force is about a fulcrum, that
is, we find the turning effect of a force from its turning point. When finding the moment of
a force we use the perpendicular distance from the line of action to the turning point. The
formula below gives us the moment of a force.
Moment of a force (turning effect of a force) = Force applied x perpendicular distance from
the line of action to the fulcrum
Here we multiply force by distance. The SI units for force are Newtons (N) and the SI units
for distance are metres (m). This gives the SI units for moments as Newton metres (Nm).
Example 1: Let us find the moment of a force when using a 1m long spade by applying a
30N force at a fixed point.
(a) When you hold the spade at the end the moment of the force will be
Moment = force x distance
= 30 N x 1 m
= 30 Nm
(b) When you hold the spade in the centre
½ x 1m = 0.5 m
Moment = force x distance
= 30 N x 0.5 m
= 15 Nm
From (a) and (b) above you will realise that the moment acting at the end of the spade is 30
Nm and the moment acting at the centre of the spade is 15 Nm. The larger amount of moment
is given when holding the spade at the end, therefore it is easier to do the work when the
distance is longer than when it is shorter.
64 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 6
Let us see how much of the lesson you have understood by doing the activity below:
Activity 2
Spend 5 minutes on this activity
Note that this is a practical activity. Gather the following items to assist you in
this activity:-
• A piece of plank
• Two nails
• A screwdriver
Carry out this activity below according to the instructions given.
Step 1: Screw in two nails into the piece of plank.
Step 2: Hold the screw driver towards the end and unscrew one of the nails
from the plank.
Step 3: For the second nail unscrew the nail by holding the screw driver at
the centre.
Step 4: Write your observations in the space provided below
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
I hope you are following the discussion, now compare your answers with mine below:
Feedback to Activity 2
You might have noticed that it is easier to unscrew the nail by holding the screw-
driver at the end than when holding it at the centre. Moments of forces require little
force to be applied when the perpendicular distance is longer.
2.1 The law of moments of forces
Moments of forces follow the rule that a body will remain balanced if the total clockwise
movement about a fulcrum is equal to the total anticlockwise movement about the fulcrum.
By remaining balanced we mean when there is no movement in both the clockwise and
the anticlockwise direction. This law of moments of forces is also called the principle of
moments of forces. In short we can put it as:
F1 x d1 = F2 x d2 for balanced forces
NB: Consider this from the point of view of levers.
The distance from the fulcrum to the load is called the load arm and the distance from the
fulcrum to the effort is called the effort arm. These distances can be used to find the effort that
is needed to lift a known amount of force the load exerts.
65 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 6
Figure 10: Turning effects of forces on a lever
Source: [Link]
In order for the load to move, the force given by the load multiplied by the load arm has to be
less than the input effort multiplied by the effort arm. Refer to Figure 10 above. For the lever
to balance; one side of the fulcrum has to be equal to the other side of the fulcrum.
Load (L) x Load arm (LA) = Effort (E) x Effort arm (EA)
Example 2: If Anthony who is 56 kg plays on the see-saw with his brother Daman who is 70
kg. Where will Daman sit on the see-saw when Anthony sits 10 m away from the fulcrum?
L x LA = E x EA (take into consideration the force of gravity in order to get the force exerted
by the boys)
560 N x 10 m = 700 N x EA
5600 Nm = 700 N x EA
EA = 5600 Nm/700 N
EA = 8 m
Daman will have to sit 8 m away from the fulcrum in order to balance the force given by
Anthony’s body.
Example 3: Find out how much Tebo weighs if she balances the force given by Daman by
sitting 12 m away from the fulcrum.
L x LA = E x EA
560 N x 10 m = E x 12 m
5600 Nm = E x 12 m
E = 5600 Nm/12m
E = 467 N
E = 46.7 kg
If Tebo balances Anthony’s weight on the see-saw then her weight is 46.7 kg
We have come to the end of our lesson on machines, I hope you have acquired useful
66 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 6
knowledge which will benefit you in your daily life. Let us now summarise what we have
learnt in this lesson.
Summary
In this lesson we have learnt that:
• Machines make our work easier.
• Some machines multiply force, while others multiply distance.
• The mechanical advantage of the machine is the ratio of the input force to the
output force.
• There are different types of simple machines, namely levers, pulleys, inclined
planes, wheel and axles and gears.
• Levers are divided into three types; class one, class two and class three.
• The type of lever depends on the positions of the load, fulcrum and effort applied.
• Mechanical advantage in inclined planes is calculated by dividing the length of
the slope with the height moved by the load.
• Pulleys are the type of simple machine that use wheels attached to a rope or a
chain that lifts heavy objects. There are two types of pulleys; those with a
movable wheel and those that do not have a movable wheel.
• At times the rope or chain is substituted with a bar. In a case where there is a bar
instead of a rope/chain the simple machine is referred to as wheel and axle.
• For instances whereby there are two inter locking wheels with teeth like
structures, the simple machine is called gears.
• The turning effect of forces is called the moment of a force.
• The law of moments of a force states that the forces remain balanced if the total
clockwise moment is equal to the total anticlockwise moment.
• More force has to be applied towards a shorter distance from the fulcrum and
little force has to be applied towards a longer distance from the fulcrum.
Glossary
Effort: The amount of force input by the person using a simple machine.
Effort arm: Distance from the effort to the fulcrum
Fulcrum: Turning point or pivot in a lever.
Load: Object moved or resistance overcome when using simple machines.
Load arm: Distance from the load to the fulcrum.
Mechanical advantage: The ratio of output force given by a simple machine to the input
force applied by the person using the machine.
67 ©2014 BOCODOL