If a machine has a mechanical advantage greater than 1, what is true about the distances moved?

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Study for the Georgia High School Physical Science Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, detailed hints and explanations included. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

If a machine has a mechanical advantage greater than 1, what is true about the distances moved?

Explanation:
The main idea is that a mechanical advantage greater than 1 means the machine increases force by trading distance. In an ideal machine, work in equals work out, so F_in × d_in = F_out × d_out. If F_out is larger than F_in (MA > 1), the input distance must be larger than the output distance to keep the same amount of work. So the distance you move the input is greater than the distance the output moves. The only time the distances would be equal is if MA were 1; if the output distance were greater, that would correspond to MA < 1.

The main idea is that a mechanical advantage greater than 1 means the machine increases force by trading distance. In an ideal machine, work in equals work out, so F_in × d_in = F_out × d_out. If F_out is larger than F_in (MA > 1), the input distance must be larger than the output distance to keep the same amount of work. So the distance you move the input is greater than the distance the output moves. The only time the distances would be equal is if MA were 1; if the output distance were greater, that would correspond to MA < 1.

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