5 replies to this topic

[Sethre]

OKay, so for school I have to find the Actual Mechanical Advantage of a lever system, but I don't know how! Can anyone help me? Heres the problem that I'm suppose to find the Actual Mechanical Advantage to:

 

Problem: A first class lever in static equilibrium has a 50lb resistance force and 15lb effort force. The lever's effort force if located 4 ft from the fulcrum. 

 

This is what it tells me to do for the problem:

 

1. What is the Actual Mechanical Advantage of the system?

 

2. Using Static equilibrium calculations, calculate the length from the fulcrum to the resistance.

 

I don't understand any of it... 

[Sethre]

Never mind, I think I figured it out with the help of google and my dad. If you still want to give an answer it would be more than helpful because I'm still not positive that I have it right.

[Benihime]

Pretty sure you're over thinking this.

The easiest way to understand a lever (that we all used to play on) is the see/saw, or some would call it a teeter-totter.
Think about this--there is no way 2 five year-olds could possibly toss each other into the air.
But--give them a raised pivot point (fulcrum) and a plane, and you will have two happy toddlers.

A more complex lever would be the catapult.
One end of the plane is fixed, still have the raised pivot point (fulcrum), and the other end is pulled to create tension.
I mean really, how else can one hurtle 50lb boulders?

Te rest is just math, or geometry....I think it's geometry...maybe calculus.

[Mister Sympa]

Geometry + motion = physics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I helped.

[Champion of Cyrodiil]

Geometry + motion = physics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I helped.

f(x) + g(x) = gawd i hate calc.

[Sethre]

f(x) + g(x) = gawd i hate calc.

Pretty much.