Simple machine
A machine is a device that is specially designed or engineered to
help make it easier to do mechanical work.
A machine makes it easier to do work by performing one (or more)
of the following: -
increasing the magnitude of the applied force
changing the direction of the applied force or transferring an
applied force from one place to another
increasing the distance moved against the applied force (or
the speed the force moves).
No machine can create extra energy (that would break the law
of conservation of energy).
Different types of simple machine
There are six different types of simple machine; we will look at each of them in turn later.
Inclined plane
Wedge
Screw
Lever
Wheel and axle
Pulley
Speed multipliers These are machines designed so that the distance moved by the load is greater than
the distance moved by the effort in the same time. This is only possible if the load is a smaller force than
the effort.
Direction changers These are machines designed so that the load is moved in a different direction to the
effort. Depending on how they are designed some machines can act as both force or speed multipliers
and direction changers. However, a machine cannot multiply both the force and the speed at the same
time; this would mean the work output would be greater than the work input.
Mechanical advantage (MA) and velocity ratio (VR)
Some machines are more effective than others. One type of force multiplier might be able to move a
100 N load when 20 N of effort is applied. Another might be able to move a 500 N with the same effort.
It is not just a simple case of the greater the load that can be moved the better the machine, there are a
number of other factors. However, there are two terms that are often used to compare different
machines. These are mechanical advantage (MA) and velocity ratio (VR).
The inclined plane can be thought of as a force multiplier and direction changer.
Like inclined planes, wedges can be thought of as force multipliers and direction changers.
Pulley systems There are several different kinds of pulley. The most simple comprises a fixed axle with a
rope looped over the top (called a class 1 or fixed pulley). Even if there was no friction, a fixed pulley will
not provide more than a mechanical advantage of 1. This means there is no multiplication of force;
instead the pulley just changes the direction of the force. The second type of pulley is often called a
movable pulley. Here the axle is free to move up and down. If one end of the rope is fixed then applying
an effort to the other end of the rope (after it has been looped around the pulley) will effectively provide
about two times the force. However, it is worth noting that you have to provide additional effort to lift
the movable pulley as well as the load. A movable pulley has a VR of 2 as you would have to pull 2 m of
rope through the pulley in order for it to lift the load 1 m. If there are no energy losses in the pulley then
the VR = MA = IMA. Therefore the IMA for a movable pulley is also 2. For both a fixed and a movable
pulley there will be energy losses due to friction. As a result the MA will always be less than the VR. A
compound pulley is a combination of a fixed and a movable pulley. This is sometimes called a block and
tackle. The movable pulley provides the MA whereas the fixed pulley changes the direction of the force.
This makes it easy to lift the load when standing on the floor!