CHAPTER-4

SIMPLE
MACHINES
Simple machines are used to
make work easier.
They are used in various
places and times in our
lives.
 SIMPLE MACHINES

• A mechanical device that changes the direction or

magnitude of a force is known as a simple

machine.

• Reduce effort or extend the ability of people to

perform tasks beyond their normal capabilities.

• The simple machines are the inclined plane, lever,

 COMPLEX MACHINE

• COMPLEX MACHINES ARE MADE UP OF THMWO OR MORE SIMPLE MACHINES.

• WHEN WE GROUP TWO OR MORE SIMPLE MACHINES TOGETHER, IT BECOMES A COMPLEX

MACHINE.

• WHEN WE COMBINE A LEVER, WHEELS AND AXLES, AND SCREWS TOGETHER, THEY MAKE

A COMPLEX MACHINE, LIKE A CAR. CARS HAVE HUNDREDS OF SIMPLE MACHINES INSIDE
 HOW SIMPLE MACHINES WORK
• BASICALLY, A SIMPLE MACHINE RELIES ON ONE OR MORE OF THE
FOLLOWING STRATEGIES:
• WHEN WE APPLY FORCE OUTPUT FORCE TRANSFERRED TO THE
LOAD.
• TRANSFERRING THE FORCE FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER
• EXAMPLE:BLADES CUTS THE GRASS.
 CHANGING THE DIECTION OF THE FORCE

• TO HOSIT A LOAD WITH A PULLEY AND ROPE.

 IT INCREASES THE MAGNITUDE OF A FORCE
• ROD IS A MACHINE WHICH MAKES A JOB EASIER.
 INCREASING THE DISTANCE OR SPEED OF THE
FORCE

DIFFCULT TO CLIMB A MOUNTASIN ID THERE IS NO ROADS.

 TERMS RELATED TO SIMPLE MACHINES
• INPUT FORCE(EFFORT):FORCE APPLIED

• OUT PUT FORCE(LOAD):MACHINES APPLIES TO DO WORK

• MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE:

• THE FORMULA OF MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE IS GIVEN AS:

• MA=OUTPUT FORCE/INPUT FORCE

• WHEREIN,

• MA IS THE MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE

• OUTPUT FORCE > INPUT FORCE

• M.A > 1
 NUMERICALS
Example 1
Estimate the mechanical advantage if 400 N force is
needed to overcome the load of 900 N.
Solution:
INPUT FORCE = 400 N
OUTPUT FORCE = 900 N
The formula of mechanical advantage is
MA = OUTPUT FORCE / INPUT FORCE
MA = 900 / 400
MA = 2.25
EXAMPLE 2
DETERMINE THE VALUE OF MECHANICAL
ADVANTAGE IF 300 NEWTON FORCE IS REQUIRED
TO OVERCOME A LOAD OF 700 NEWTON.
SOLUTION:
THE GIVEN PARAMETERS IN THE PROBLEM ARE,
INPUT FORCE = 300 N
OUTPUT FORCE = 700 N
MA = OUTPUT FORCE / INPUT FORCE
=700/300=7/3
EXAMPLE 3
CALCULATE THE MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE VALUE IF 500 NEWTON FORCE IS REQUIRED TO OVERCOME
A LOAD OF 1000 NEWTON.

SOLUTION:

THE GIVEN PARAMETERS ARE,

INPUT FORCE = 500 N

OUTPUT FORCE = 1000N

THUS, USING MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE FORMULA AS,

MA = OUTPUT FORCE / INPUT FORCE

=1000/500

MA = 2
TYPES 0F SIMPLE MACHINES
LEVER
PULLEY
INCLINED PLANE
WEDGE
SCREW
WHEEL AND AXLE
 LEVER
• A lever is a rigid rod pivoted at a fixed point used to lift or move heavy objects.
EFFOR
• It is a basic of all simple machines. T
LOAD

FULCRUM

The three components of a lever are the fulcrum, effort, and load:

a fulcrum (pivot point)

an effort (input force),

and a load (output force).

 • FIRST-CLASS LEVER
• SECOND CLASS LEVER
• THIRD CLASS LEVER
 PRINCIPLE OF A LEVER

LOAD X LOAD ARM = EFFORT X EFFORT ARM.

LOAD/EFFORT = EFFORT ARM(EA) / LOAD ARM(LA).

MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE(M.A) OF A LEVER =

LOAD/EFFORT
1. THE EFFORT ARM OF A LEVER IS 4 M LONG ANDTHE LOAD ARM IS 8 M LONG. FIND THE
EFFORT REQUIRED TO LIFT A LOAD OF 20 N.
ANSWER :
GIVEN,
EFFORT ARM = 4 M
LOAD ARM = 8 M
LOAD = 20 N
WE KNOW THAT,
LOAD X LOAD ARM = EFFORT X EFFORT ARM
20 N X 8 M = EFFORT X 4 M
EFFORT = 20 X 8/4
EFFORT = 40 N
2) AN EFFORT FORCE OF 20 N IS USED TO LIFT A LOAD OF 60 N BY A
MACHINE. CALCULATE THE MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE OF THE MACHINE.

ANSWER :

GIVEN,

EFFORT = 20 N

LOAD = 60 N

WE KNOW THAT,

M.A. = LOAD/EFFORT

M.A. = 60/20

M.A. = 3
THE EFFORT ARM OF A LEVER IS 50 M AND THE LOAD ARM IS 5 M. CALCULATE
THE EFFORT FORCE REQUIRED TO LIFT A LOAD OF 200 N.
ANSWER :
GIVEN,
EFFORT ARM = 50 M
LOAD ARM = 5 M
LOAD = 200 N
EFFORT FORCE = ?
WE KNOW THAT,
LOAD X LOAD ARM = EFFORT X EFFORT ARM
200 N X 5 M = EFFORT X 50 M
EFFORT = 200 X 5/50
EFFORT = 20 N
 FIRST CLASS LEVER
• THIS IS A TYPE OF LEVER WHICH HAS THE FULCRUM IN BETWEEN THE LOAD AND THE FORCE

APPLIED.

• LENGTH OF LOAD AND EFFORT ARM IS SAME.

• M.A IS 1.

• IF FULCRUM LIES NEAR THE LOAD ARM,THE M.A >1

• IT ACTS AS A FORCE [Link]) MACHINE PRODUCE

GREATER FORCE THAN APPLIED FORCE

EXAMPLE:
 SECOND CLASS LEVER
• LOAD IS PLACED BETWEEN FULCRUM AND EFFOERT.

• LENGTH THE E.A>LENGTH OF THE L.A.

• M.A>1

• IT ACTS AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER.

• LOAD MOVES IN THE SAME DIRECTION

AS FORCE APPLIED.

EXAMPLE:

• WHEELBARROW,STAPLERS,DOORS OR GATES

• BOTTLE OPENERS,NUTCRACKER,NAIL CLIPPERS

 THIRD CLASS LEVER
THESE ARE THE LEVERS IN WHICH THE FULCRUM IS AT ONE END AND THE EFFORT IS

APPLIED IN THE MIDDLE AND THE LOAD IS ON THE OTHER END.

• LENGTHOF THE LOAD ARM IS MORE THAN LENGTH OF EFFORT ARM.

• M.A<1

• EFFORT AND LOAD MOVE IN SAME DIRECTION

• LOAD MOVED THROUGH LONG DISTANCE,SO IT IS DISTANCE

OR SPEED MULTIPLIER.

• EXAMPLE:
HOMEWORK
In the following figure, a broom is shown

(a) Name the cateogry of simple machine this object belongs to.

(b) Calculate mechanical advantage of this tool?

PULLEY
 TYPES OF PULLEY

• fixed pulleys,

• movable pulleys and

• compound pulleys.
Inclined Plane• An inclined plane is a flat supporting surface, tilted at an
angle with one end higher than the other
• It s a simple machine that is a flat surface that is tilted at an angle, with

one end higher than the other.

• Force multiplier

• M.A= LENGTH OF THE PLANK

HEIGHT AT WHICH THE LOAD RAISED

EG)STAIRS,ESCALATORS,LADDERS AND ROAD ON A HILL.

 SCREW
It is a cylindrical piece of metal with pointed end and spirally threaded
surface used to join things together.
• Screw is a modified inclined plane.
• Screws are used to lift heavy objects or fasten two objects together.
• The spiral ridges of a screw is the Thread and the distance between each
thread is the Pitch.
• It converts rotating motion
into linear motion.
• It Is A Force Multiplier.
• A WEDGE IS A DOUBLE INCLINE PLANE THAT IS
SHARPENED TO AN END.
• IT CAN BE USED TO SEPARATE TWO PORTIONS OF AN
OBJECT.
Wedge
 INPUT
FORCE

OUTPUT
FORCE

EXAMPLES
axe
.
knife
scissors and saws
WHEEL AND AXLE