TEEMSS 2
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All Units>Unit 7 - Levers and machines>Investigation 1 - Levers, pulleys, and inclined planes, Oh My!>Analysis

Analysis

  1. Review your lever graphs in Trial I. Was the amount of force needed to lift the potatoes in a first class lever different when the sack was moved closer to the rolling pin? Make a rule for lifting objects with a first class lever that includes how the force changes by moving the load closer or further from the fulcrum.


  2. How does the amount of force vary between the fixed and moveable pulleys in Trial II? Check out how many strings "share" the load. Explain your results.


  3. How did the force vary from lifting the block straight up in the air to when it was lifted on the ramp in Trial III? Think about how far the wooden block must move from the floor to the chair. Is it farther to go straight up or with the inclined plane (ramp)?


  4. The Mechanical Advantage (MA) of a simple machine can be calculated based on the measure of distance traveled by the load, divided by the distance traveled by the applied aorce.

    In the case of an inclined plane, the ratio of vertical height traveled divided by the length of a ramp, is the MA for a ramp

    MA = vertical height/length of ramp

    Determine the MA of your ramp.


  5. Recall what you observed with the levers and pulleys. Which rule would you say is correct for an inclined plane (ramp)?

    a) Going up a ramp to a given height, the longer the ramp, the greater the effort.

    b) Going up a ramp to a given height, the longer the ramp, the less the effort.

    c) Going up a ramp to a given height, it is the same effort regardless of the length of the ramp.


  6. Describe the benefits of using a simple machine.



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