Simple Machines

Simple Machines

 

 

In this lab we made four out of the six simple machines.  The goal was to have a mechanical advantage of 6 for the lever, inclined plane, and the wheel and axle.  The goal for the pulley was a mechanical advantage of 2. We used a box of nails as the output force.  The nails weighed approximately 4.6 Newtons. We calculated the actual mechanical advantage.  After we found the actual mechanical advantage of our machine, we calculated % efficiency.  To find % efficiency we divided the ideal mechanical advantage by the actual mechanical advantage and then multiplied by

100.

Lever by our group

Inclined Plane by our group



Wheel and axle by our group

Pulley by our group

Without calculating percent error and measuring the machines, the winner would have been Finbar's group.  However, after Mr. Atkins measured the dimensions on each group's lever, our group was the only group not disqualified.  We did not measure every other machine therefore it is not clear who the winner would have been.  It is difficult to determine a winner because of measurements and percent error may be calculated incorrectly, or in our case, not at all.

Not one group got 100% efficency or the exact mechanical advantage we were trying to get.  It is very likely that groups measured wrong.  Also groups did not test the input force, the box of nails, on their machines before finishing.  By testing as you create the machines, you can figure out what you have to change and how far from the mechanical advantage you are. For the next project, I will make sure to test my machines after each modification to ensure the highest percent efficiency.