Mechanical Advantage of Simple Machines

Which of the simple machines has the greatest mechanical advantage?
- Lauren (age 19)
Ypsilanti

Hello Lauren,

There are many types of simple machines:  the lever, the screw, worm gear, inclined plane, etc.  The mechanical advantage of each machine depends on its construction details so you really can't say one has an advantage over another.   For example for a simple lever with arm lengths of L1 and L2,  the mechanical advantage is either L1/L2  or  L2/L1 depending on which end of the stick you are using.

See:    for some more information. 

 

LeeH

(published on 02/10/2014)