Mechanical Advantages - Simple Machines

Front 1

Class 1 Lever

Back 1

First class lever magnifies the effort, and changes the direction of the effort.

Effort pushes down and the resistance moves up.

Fulcrum is between the effort and the load.

Front 2

Class 2 Lever

Back 2

A second-class lever magnifies the force but does not change the direction of the force.

The effort pushes up and the resistance moves up.

Resistance (or load) is between the effort and the fulcrum.

Front 3

Class 3 Lever

Back 3

A third class lever pushes the effort up as well as the resistance.

Magnifies speed and does not change the direction of the force.

Effort is between the load and the fulcrum.

(To use a Class 3 lever, you must exert a greater force on the lever than the lever exerts on the load.)

Front 4

Mechanical advantage (Of a Lever)

Back 4

(Distance from fulcrum to effort) divided by (distance from fulcrum to resistance)

Front 5

Mechanical advantage (of a wheel and axle)

Back 5

(Diameter of the wheel) divided by (diameter of the axle)

Front 6

Mechanical advantage (of an inclined plane)

Back 6

(Length of the slope) divided by (height)

Front 7

Mechanical advantage (of a wedge)

Back 7

(Length of the slope) divided by (height)

Front 8

Mechanical advantage (of a screw)

Back 8

(Circumference) divided by (pitch)