Mechanical Systems: More Practice

Gear and pulley mechanical advantage, and how efficiently a machine converts input work into useful output.

8 questions, free, marked as you go with a worked explanation on every one.

What this covers

The questions

  1. A driver gear has 10 teeth and turns a driven gear with 40 teeth. What is the mechanical advantage of this gear train?
  2. In the same gear train, the 10-tooth driver gear turns at 80 RPM. What speed does the 40-tooth driven gear turn at, in RPM?
  3. In a class 1 lever, where is the fulcrum located?
  4. A lever is used to lift a load, with an input force of 20 N producing an output force of 100 N. What is its mechanical advantage?
  5. A pulley system uses 4 supporting ropes to lift a load. Ignoring friction, what is its mechanical advantage?
  6. Use the table below, showing three machines and how much of their input work becomes useful output work. Which machine is the most efficient?
  7. A machine converts 100 J of input work into 60 J of useful output work. What is its efficiency, as a percent?
  8. Which of these changes reduces the energy a mechanical system loses to friction?

Answer these free