MACHINES

What is Machines?
A piece of equipment with moving parts that is designed to do a
particular job. A machine usually
needs electricity, gas, steam, etc. in
order to work.

What is Machine in Physics?

A machine is an object or mechanical device that receives an
input amount of work and transfers the energy to an output
amount of work.
The six common simple machines are the lever, wheel and
axle,pulley, inclined plane, wedge, and screw.
The various functions of machines are useful to us in the
following four ways:
(1) In lifting a heavy load by applying less effort, i.e., as a
force multiplier.
Examples: A jack is used to lift a car, a bar is used
to lift a heavy stone, a spade, pulleys, a wheel
barrow etc

(2) In changing the point of application of effort to a

convenient point.
Example: The rear wheel of a cycle is rotated by applying effort
on the pedal.

(3) In changing the direction of effort to a convenient

direction.
Example: Single fixed pulley to raise water from well.
(4) For obtaining a gain in speed (i.e., a greater movement of
load by a smaller movement of effort)
Examples: A pair of scissors, Ice tongs.

DEFINE MACHINES:
A machine is a device by which we can either overcome a large
resistive force (or load) at some point by applying a small force
(oreffort) at a convenient point and in a desired direction or by
which we can obtain a gain in speed.

TECHNICAL TERMS RELATED TO A MACHINES:

(1) Load
The resistive or opposing force to be overcome by a machine
is called load (L). SI Unit – Newton, CGS Unit - dyne

(2) Effort
The force applied on the machine to overcome the load is
called effort (E). SI Unit – Newton, CGS Unit - dyne

(3) Mechanical advantage (M.A.)

The ratio of load to effort is called the mechanical advantage of
themachine.
MA = Load / Effort

Unit: It has no unit.

Value Of Mechanical Advantage
(1) MA > 1 are Force Multiplier
While using a machine to overcome a
certain load, if the effort needed is less
than the load then MA > 1.
A machine having mechanical advantage
greater than 1, acts as a force multiplier.
Ex: a Jack

(2) MA < 1 are Gain in Speed

If it needs an effort greater than the
load, it has MA < 1. A machine having
mechanical advantage less than 1
gives gain in speed. Ex: a pair of
scissors

(3) MA = 1 Change Direction of Effort

The machine having MA = 1 is generally used to
change the direction of effort as there is no gain in
force or speed. Ex: a single fixed pulley.
A machine cannot be used as a force multiplier as
well as a speed multiplier simultaneously.

(4) Velocity Ratio (V.R.):

The ratio of the velocity of effort to the velocity of load is called
the velocity ratio of machine, i.e.,
Velocity Ratio = Velocity of Effort / Value of Load
Velocity ratio is also defined as the ratio of the displacement
of effort to the displacement of load.
Values of Velocity Ratio
(1) VR < 1 Gain in Speed
A machine in which the dL > dE , will have velocity ratio less
than 1 and such a machine gives gain in speed because load is
moving at a faster rate.

(2) VA > 1 Force Multiplier

If velocity ratio of a machine is more than 1, i.e., the displacement
of load is less than the displacement of effort, the machine acts as
a force multiplier.

(3) VR = 1 Changes the direction of effort

The velocity ratio of a machine is 1 if the displacement of load
isequal to the displacement of effort. Such a machine
generally changes the direction of effort.
Unit: Since velocity ratio is also the ratio of two similar
quantities (distances), so it has no unit.

5) Work Input
The work done on the machine by the effort, is called work input.
Work input = work done by the effort

(Work input = Effort X EA)

(6) Work output

The work done by the machine on the load is called work
output(W).
Work output = work done on the Load.

(Work output = Load X LA)

(7) Efficiency (n)

Efficiency of a machine is the ratio of the work done on the load
bythe machine to the work done on the machine by the effort.
Efficiency = work output / work input x 100%

PRINCIPLE OF A MACHINE
The point at which energy is supplied to a machine by
applying effort is called the effort point and the point where
energy is obtained by overcoming the load, is called the load
point.

Input energy = work done at the effort point

= effort x displacementof the point of application of effort

Output Energy = work obtained at the load point

= load x displacement of the point of application of load

For an ideal machine,

Output energy = Input Energy

Ideal machine : An ideal machine is that in which there is no loss

of energy in any manner. Here the work output is equal to the
work input. i.e., the efficiency of an ideal machine is 100%.
Actual machine: In an actual machine, the output energy is
always less than the input energy i.e., there is always some loss
of energyduring its operation. The loss of energy in a machine is
due to the following three reasons:
1. the moving parts in it are neither weightless nor smooth
(or frictionless),
2. the string in it is not perfectly elastic, and
3. its different parts are not perfectly rigid.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EFFICIENCY (n),

MECHANICALADVANTAGE (MA) AND VELOCITY RATIO
(VR)
Efficiency (n) = work output / work input

Efficiency (n) = M.A. / V.R.

M.A. = V.R. x n

LEVERS
Levers are the simplest kind of machines used in our daily life.
A lever is a rigid, straight (or bent) bar which is capable of
turning about a fixed axis.
The axis, about which the lever turns, passes through a point of
thelever which is called the fulcrum. It is generally marked by the
letter F. This point does not move, but remains fixed when the
lever is in use.

Principle of a lever (M.A. of a lever)

A lever works on the principle of moments according to which at

the equilibrium position of the lever, moment of load about the
fulcrum must be equal to themoment of effort about the fulcrum
and the two moments must always be in opposite directions.

Clockwise moment of load about the fulcrum

= Anticlockwise moment of effort about the
fulcrum.

i.e., Load x load arm = Effort x effort arm

or
L × LA = E × EA

KINDS OF LEVERS
Depending upon the relative positions of effort, load and
fulcrum, there are following three types of levers (1) Class I
levers, (2) ClassII levers, and (3) Class III levers.

(1) Class I levers

In this type of levers,
thefulcrum F is in
between the effort E
and the load L .
Examples: A seesaw, a pair of scissors, etc.
For class I levers, the mechanical advantage
and velocity ratio canhave any value either
greater than 1, equal to 1 or less than 1.

(2) Class II levers

In this type of levers, the fulcrum F and the effort E are at the
twoends of the lever and the
load L is somewhere
in between the effort E
andthe fulcrum F .The
effort arm is always
longer than the load
arm.
The mechanical advantage and velocity
ratio of class II levers arealways more than
1.
Examples: A nut cracker, a bottle opener,
etc.

(3) Class III levers

In this type of levers, the fulcrum F and the load L are at the
twoends of the lever
and the effort E is
somewhere in
between the fulcrum
F and theload L .
The mechanical advantage and velocity ratio of
class III levers arealways less than 1.

Examples: Sugar tongs, knife, fire tong, spade, fishing rod etc.

EXAMPLES OF EACH CLASS OF LEVERS AS FOUND IN

THEHUMAN BODY
In a human body, we can find examples of all
thethree classes of levers.
(1) Class I lever in the action of nodding of
head :In this action, the spine acts as the
fulcrum F, load L is at its front part, while effort
E is at its rear part.

(2) Class II lever in raising the weight of

thebody on toes:
The fulcrum F is at the toes at one end, the
load L (i.e., weight of the body) is in the
middle and effort E by muscles is at the other
end.

(3) Class III lever in raising a load

byforearm:
The elbow joint acts as fulcrum F
at one end, biceps exerts the
effort E in the middle and load L
on the palm is at the other end.

PULLEY
A single pulley can be used in two ways:
(1) as a fixed pulley by keeping its axis of rotation stationary
i.e.,keeping its frame fixed in position, and
(2) as a movable pulley by changing its axis of rotation i.e.,
keepingthe whole frame movable.

SINGLE FIXED PULLEY

A pulley which has its axis of rotation stationary
in position, is called a fixed pulley.
It is the friction between the string and the
surface of the rim of the pulley which rotates the
pulley when the string is pulled down.

M.A., V.R., and n of a single fixed pulley

MA = load/effort
MA = 1

In actual practice, however, there is always some friction at the

axleor in the pulley bearings, so the effort needed is little more
than theload to be lifted. Thus, mechanical advantage is less than
1 but velocity ratio is 1, so efficiency is always less than 100%.

A fixed pulley is used only to change the direction of effort to

be applied, i.e., with its use, the effort can be applied in a more
convenient direction.
SINGLE MOVABLE PULLEY
A pulley whose axis of rotation is movable
(ie., not fixed in position) is called a movable
pulley.
VR = 2
M.A. = 2T/T = 2
n = M.A./ V.R. = 2/2 = 1 or 100%

COMBINATION OF PULLEYS
1) Using one fixed pulley and
othermovable pulley.
MA = 2n ,where n = No of Movable pulleys
VR = 2n
Efficiency = MA/ VR = 1

2) Using several pulleys in two

blocks (block and tackle system)

3) MA= Total Number of pulleys in

both the blocks
VR= No. of strands of the
tackle supporting the load.
In block and Tackle system:
a) No of Pulleys in Upper block
is Equal to or greater than
Lowerblock.
b) For greater efficiency, the pulleys in lower block
should be aslight as possible and friction be reduced.
 1 MARKS
Q. 1. A woman draws water from a well using a fixed pulley. The
mass of the bucket and the water together is 10 kg. The force
applied by the woman is 200 N.) The mechanical advantage is (g =
10 m/s2):
(a) 2
(b) 20
(c) 0.05
(d) 0.5

Ans. (d) 0.5

Q. 2. For an ideal single movable pulley :

(a) M.A.=1, V.R.=2
(b) M.A.=1, V.R.=1
(c) M.A.=2, V.R.=2
(d) M.A.=2, V.R.=1

Ans. (c) M.A.=2, V.R.=2

Q. 3. Single fixed pulley is used:

(a) To have more mechanical advantage
(b) To have more velocity ratio
(c) To achieve more efficiency
(d) To change the direction of effort to be applied

Ans. (d) To change the direction of effort to be applied

Q. 5. In the diagram shown below, the velocity ratio of the
arrangement is:
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 0

Ans. (b) 2

Q. 6. The force ratio in the following two cases is:

(a) 1:2
(b) 2:1
(c) 1:1
(d) 1:4

Ans. (c) 1:1

Q7. In the following block and tackle system, there are

_____ pulleys in block and ______ pulleys in tackle,
(a) 2,3
(c) 4,1
(b) 3,2
(d) 1,4
Ans. (B) 3,2

Q. 8. In the following pulley system

(a) Pulley A is fixed, Pulley B and C are

movable
(b) Pulley A is movable, Pulley B and C are
fixed
(c) All the three pulleys are movable
(d) Pulley C is fixed, Pulley A and B are
movable

Ans. (a) Pulley A is fixed, Pulley B and C are movable

Q. 9. A block and tackle pulley system has n pulleys. If the load
moves up through a distance d, the effort end moves through a
distance:
(a) d
(b) nd
(c) d/n
(d) d + nd
(e) n/d

Ans. (b) nd

Q. 10. In the following pulley system there are

1 fixed pulley and 3 movable pulleys.
The mechanical advantage of the system is :
(a) 4
(b) 3
(c) 24
(d) 23
(e) 1 + 3 X 2
Ans. (d) 23

3 MARKS
Q. 1. Derive a relationship between mechanical advantage,
velocity ratio and efficiency of a machine.

Q. 2. A pulley system has a velocity ratio of 4 and efficiency 60%.

Calculate mechanical advantage.
Q.3. A boy uses a single fixed pulley to lift a load of 50 kgf to
some height. Another boy uses a single movable pulley to lift the
same load to the same height. Compare the effort applied by
them. Give a reason to support your answer.

Q.4. From the diagram given below,

answer the questions that follow :

(i) What kind of pulleys are A and B?

(ii) State the purpose of pulley B.
(iii) What effort has to be applied at C to just raise the load L = 20
kgf?

Q. 5. A pulley system has a velocity ratio of 4 and an efficiency of

90%. Calculate:
(i) The mechanical advantage of the system.
(ii) The effort required to raise a load of 300 N by the system.
Q. 6. A system of 5 pulleys is arranged to form a block and tackle
set up. Show on a diagram, the manner in which the string is
around over this system of pulley. Also indicate the points where
the load is suspended and where the effort in applied. An effort
applied to this system is used to raise the load through 60 cm.
Find the value of the distance over which the effort has moved.

Q. 6. A load M = 200 kg is supported in two different ways shown

in the given figure. F1 and F2 are the forces
needed in two cases. Calculate
F1/ F2
 4 MARKS
Q. 1. A pulley system with V.R. = 4 is used to lift a load of 175 kgf
through a vertical height of 15 m. The effort required is 50 kgf in
the downward direction. (g = 10N / k X g)
Calculate:
(i) Distance moved by the effort.
(ii) Work done by the effort.
(iii) M.A. of the pulley system.
(iv) Efficiency of the pulley system.

Q. 2. A block and tackle system has V.R.=5

(i) Draw a neat labelled diagram of a system including the
direction of its load and effort.
(ii) Rohan exerts a pull of 150 kgf. What is the maximum load he
can raise with this pulley system if its efficiency = 75% ?

Q. 3. A pulley system has a velocity ratio 5. Draw a neat labelled

diagram of the pulley system to lift a load by applying the effort in
a convenient direction.

Mark the tension in your diagram.

(i) If the efficiency of the system is 80%, find its mechanical
advantage.
(ii) If a load of 10 kgf is pulled up by a distance of 2 m in 10 s,
-2
calculate the power developed by the effort (given g = 10 ms ).
Q. 4. A block and tackle system of pulley has a velocity ratio 4.
(i) Draw a labelled diagram of the system indicating clearly the
points of application and direction, of load and effort.
(ii) What is the value of the mechanical advantage of the given
pulley system if it is an ideal pulley system?

Q. 5. Draw a diagram of a pulley system of velocity ratio 4.

Calculate its mechanical advantage if its efficiency is 90%.
Q. 6. (i) Draw a diagram to show a block and tackle pulley system
having a velocity ratio of 3 marking the direction of load (L), effort
(E) and tension (T).

(ii) The pulley system drawn lifts a load of 150 N when an effort of
60 N is applied. Find its mechanical advantage.

(iii) Is the above pulley system an ideal machine or not?

Q. 7. The diagram below shows a pulley

arrangement:
(i) Copy the diagram and mark the direction of tension on each
strand of the string.
(ii) What is the velocity ratio of the arrangement?
(iii) If the tension acting on the string is T, then what is the
relationship between T and effort E?
(iv) If the free end of the string moves through a distance x, find
the distance by which the load is raised.