Work and Power
Understanding Machines
Inclined Planes and Levers
Putting Machines Together
Test Questions
100

This is the force exerted on an object that causes it to move.

work

100

This is a device that changes the amount of force exerted, the distance over which a force is exerted, or the direction over which a force is exerted.

machine

100

This is the most basic device for making work easier; these are the small building blocks for making complex machines.

simple machine

100

This is a simple machine that consists of a grooved wheel with a rope or cable wrapped around it.

pulley

100

This is when a small input force is exerted over a long distance.  This lever makes this possible.

inclined plane

200

This is the rate at which one form of energy is transferred to another.

power

200

This is the force exerted ON a machine.

input force

200

This is a simple machine that is a flat, slopped surface.

inclined plane

200

This is a simple machine that consists of two attached circular or cylindrical objects, that rotate around a common axis, each one with a different radius.

wheel and axle

200

An inclined plane make loading a heavy crate onto a truck easier than lifting the crate.  This happens because it reduces the force you exert on this.



crate

300

This is the unit of power when one joule of work is done in one second.

watt

300

This is the force exerted on an object BY a MACHINE.

output force

300

This is a simple machine that is an inclined plane wrapped around a central cylinder to form a spiral.

screw

300

This is a device that combines two or more simple machines.

compound machine

300

This changes the direction of the force but not the size of the object.

fixed pulley

400

How much work, in joules, do you do when you push a shopping cart with a force of 50 N for a distance of 5 m?

250 J

400

This is the mechanical advantage for a machine. 

output force : input force

400

These are three closely related simple machines in the inclined plane family.

wedge, screw, inclined plane

400

You exert a 100-N force on a pulley system to lift 300 N. This is how many sections of rope support the weight.

3

400

This simple machine is made of a grooved wheel with a rope or cable wrapped around it.

pulley

500

You're holding your dog's leash as the dog pulls on the leash at an angle to the ground. You move forward. What fraction of the dog's force does work on you?

The part of dog's force that acts in the horizontal direction

500

This is why real machines have an efficiency of less than 100%.

friction

500

This is the ideal mechanical advantage of a lever with 2.0 m between the input force and the fulcrum and 1.0 m between the output force and the fulcrum.

2.0

500

A pencil sharpener is made from a wheel and axle with an ideal mechanical advantage of 3 and a wedge with an ideal mechanical advantage of 4. This is the overall ideal mechanical advantage of the pencil sharpener.

12

500

This type of pulley does not change the direction of the force applied.

moveable pulley

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