six simple machines
This machine consists of a rigid bar pivoted at a fixed point called a fulcrum.
What is a Lever?
This three-letter acronym represents the mechanical advantage of a perfect machine where friction is ignored.
What is IMA (Ideal Mechanical Advantage)
In a gear train, if the "Driver" gear is smaller than the "Driven" gear, you have increased this rotational force.
What is Torque?
This specific linkage is used to transmit motion around a 90-degree corner, common in bicycle brakes.
What is a Bell Crank?
This mechanism consists of a rotating eccentric wheel that moves a "follower" up and down.
What is a Cam and Follower?
A compound machine like a bicycle or a clock is essentially a collection of these working together
What are Simple Machines?
This value is calculated by dividing the Work Output by the Work Input, usually expressed as a percentage.
What is Efficiency?
To find the Gear Ratio, you divide the number of teeth on the output gear by the number of teeth on this gear.
What is the Input (or Driver) Gear?
In this type of linkage, the output rod moves in the exact same direction as the input rod.
What is a Parallel Motion Linkage?
Found in almost every internal combustion engine, this mechanism converts reciprocating motion into rotary motion.
What is a Crank and Slider?
This machine is technically an inclined plane wrapped around a central cylinder.
What is a Screw?
Unlike IMA, this "Actual" value is calculated using the measured forces ($F_{out} / F_{in}$)
What is AMA (Actual Mechanical Advantage)
This is the trade-off in gear design: if you increase the torque, you must proportionally decrease this.
What is Speed (or Angular Velocity)?
This linkage uses a central fixed pivot to make the output move in the opposite direction of the input.
What is a Reverse Motion Linkage?
Unlike a chain drive, this power transmission system uses friction and a flexible loop to connect two pulleys.
What is a Belt Drive?
: While a single fixed pulley only changes the direction of force, this machine (consisting of multiple pulleys) is used to multiply the lifting force.
What is a Block and Tackle
In any real-world machine, Efficiency is always less than 100% because some energy is lost to this force.
What is Friction?
This "middle" gear is used to change the direction of rotation between two gears without affecting the final Gear Ratio.
What is an Idler Gear?
This four-bar linkage design ensures the output link remains at a constant angle, often used in toolbox hinges.
What is a Parallelogram Linkage
This type of cam follower is shaped like a point to follow very intricate cam profiles accurately.
What is a Knife-Edge Follower?
To calculate the Mechanical Advantage of this specific machine, you divide the length of the slope by the height of the rise
What is an Inclined Plane?
If a lever has an IMA of 10 but an AMA of 8, its efficiency is this percentage.
What is 80%?
If a 10-tooth gear drives a 50-tooth gear, the resulting Gear Ratio is expressed as this.
What is 5:1?
Linkages are primarily used to convert one type of motion into another; this term describes motion in a straight line.
What is Linear Motion?
In a belt drive, if the pulleys are connected with a "crossed" belt, this happens to the direction of the output pulley.
What is it Reverses (or rotates in the opposite direction)?