Physics: Mechanical Advantage

Objectives

• Students will determine the mechanical advantages and efficiencies of simple machines.
• Students will relate the factors that affect the mechanical advantage of an inclined plane and a lever.
• Students will develop an understanding of the mechanical advantage of an inclined plane and a lever as they relate to the concepts of force, torque, and static equilibrium.

Vocabulary

• first-class lever
• inclined plane
• static equilibrium
• force
• mechanical advantage
• torque

About the Lesson

This lesson has students explore the relationship between resistance force and effort force for inclined planes and levers.

• Students first gather real-world data for the effort force required to hold a mass stationary on an inclined plane versus the height and length of the plane. Then students use simulation to explore the mechanical advantage of first-class levers.
• Students predict and test formulas for the mechanical advantage of inclined planes and levers, and then apply their formulas in real-world applications.