Systems in Action

• System

  A set of organized parts that work together to fulfill a specific purpose
• Types of systems

  • Mechanical
  • Political
  • Biological
  • Transportation
• Input

  The materials or energy required by the system
• Output

  The result of the system
• Vegetable Garden


  • Purpose: To grow vegetable for food
  • Input: Seeds, water, fertilizer, sunlight
  • Output: Food, compost
• Mechanical Advantage (MA)

  Effort arm length/load arm length
• The mechanical advantage is used to tell how many times easier it is with the machine than without it
• Work

  W = Fd
• If you increase the distance


  The force decreases
• Calculating the force required to lift an object against gravity

  Work (J) = Force (N) x distance (m)