Mechanical Advantage
Mechanical Advantage
In this lesson, students will explore the relationship between resistance force and effort force for the inclined plane and the lever.
- 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.
- first-class lever
- inclined plane
- static equilibrium
- force
- mechanical advantage
- torque
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.
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