2.1.4 Mechanical advantage and disadvantage

• Mechanical Advantage is the ratio of the force produced by a lever to the force required to move the load
• What is the formula to calculate mechanical advantage?

  Effort arm / Load arm
• Mechanical Advantage indicates how much a lever system amplifies force
• A mechanical advantage of 3 means the effort required is reduced to one-third
• What is the formula to calculate mechanical disadvantage?

  Load arm / Effort arm
• Mechanical Advantage amplifies the force required to move a load.

  True
• If the load arm is 4 meters and the effort arm is 2 meters, what is the mechanical disadvantage?

  2
• What is the formula to calculate mechanical advantage?

  Effort arm / Load arm
• Mechanical Advantage is calculated as Effort arm divided by Load arm
• What is the definition of Load arm in a lever system?

  Fulcrum to load distance
• A Mechanical Advantage of 3 means the effort required is reduced to one-third of the load.

  True
• What is the formula for Mechanical Disadvantage?

  Load arm / Effort arm
• Give an example of a lever system that uses Mechanical Disadvantage.

  Wheelbarrow
• What is mechanical advantage?

  Ratio of force produced to effort
• What is the formula for mechanical disadvantage?

  Load arm / Effort arm
• What is the relationship between load, effort, and distance in lever systems?

  Mechanical advantage or disadvantage
• What does a mechanical advantage of 3 mean in terms of effort required?

  Effort is reduced to one-third
• Steps to calculate mechanical advantage

  1️⃣ Identify the effort arm

  2️⃣ Identify the load arm

  3️⃣ Divide the effort arm by the load arm
• What is the purpose of the load arm in a lever system?

  Reduce the effort required
• Mechanical disadvantage occurs when the load arm is longer than the effort arm.


  True
• Match the lever system term with its description:

  Effort arm ↔️ Distance from fulcrum to effort

  Load arm ↔️ Distance from fulcrum to load

  Fulcrum ↔️ Pivot point of the lever
• All levers provide a mechanical advantage.

  False
• If the effort arm is 6 meters and the load arm is 2 meters, what is the mechanical advantage?

  3
• Mechanical Disadvantage increases the effort required to move a load
• Mechanical Disadvantage occurs when the load arm is longer than the effort
• Mechanical Advantage is the ratio of the force produced by the lever to the force required to move the load
• What is the formula to calculate Mechanical Advantage?

  Effort arm / Load arm
• What is the definition of Effort arm in a lever system?

  Fulcrum to effort distance
• Mechanical Advantage is the ratio of the force produced by a lever to the force required to move the load
• What are the two types of ratios compared in a lever system?

  Mechanical Advantage and Disadvantage
• Match the characteristic with the correct type of ratio:

  Definition ↔️ Ratio of force produced to force required ||| Ratio of force required to force produced

  Formula ↔️ Effort arm / Load arm ||| Load arm / Effort arm

  Effect ↔️ Reduces effort required ||| Increases effort required
• Order the steps to explain the relationship between load, effort, and distance in lever systems:

  1️⃣ Define Mechanical Advantage

  2️⃣ Define Mechanical Disadvantage

  3️⃣ Explain the role of the fulcrum

  4️⃣ Describe the effect of effort arm on force

  5️⃣ Describe the effect of load arm on force
• Mechanical disadvantage occurs when the effort required is greater than the load itself.


  True
• What is an example of mechanical disadvantage in action?

  Using a wheelbarrow
• If the effort arm is 6 meters and the load arm is 2 meters, the mechanical advantage is 3.


  True
• What is the load arm in a lever system?

  Fulcrum to load distance
• Match the characteristic with its corresponding advantage or disadvantage:

  Definition ↔️ Amplifies force to move load ||| Reduces force produced compared to effort

  Formula ↔️ Effort arm / Load arm ||| Load arm / Effort arm

  Effect ↔️ Reduces effort required ||| Increases effort required
• What is the effect of a longer lever arm in sports?

  Generates more force
• Mechanical Disadvantage occurs when the effort required is less than the load.

  False
• In a lever system, the relationship between load, effort, and distance is captured by the concepts of mechanical advantage and mechanical disadvantage