– How They Work Essay, Research Paper
A machine is any device used to change the magnitude or direction of an applied force. It is used to make tasks easier and less force-needing for humans, by transferring energy from one point to another. It?s main advantage is that it enables a person to exert a force greater than could be exerted by using muscles alone, or to apply a force more efficiently, as with the pulley.
Machines don?t always have to be complicated and intricate technological equipment, as we first think of them- a simple lever is a machine. The human skeleton is also a machine. The four most basic and simple machines are the lever, the pulley, the wheel and axle, and the inclined plane or ramp. Simple and basic machine combinations are many times used inside more complex machines, like a watch for example, which makes of use or different wheels turning each other.
The force increase is usually at the expense of speed, as the smaller force has to be sustained for longer to complete the same amount of work done. For example:
We know that WORK DONE= force x distance. Keeping this formula in mind, we can see that to perform the same amount of work, with a decrease in the force, a longer distance has to be covered, thus increasing the time taken. We can see this put into practice by looking at a simple block being pulled up a slope and directly upwards from the lowest point.
We can see that pushing the block up the slope uses a smaller force, but covers a larger distance, while the lifting of the block straight upwards uses a larger force, but covers a smaller distance. In both cases, the total amount of work done or energy used is the same.
This shows that levers don?t actually save any energy, but do make the job significantly easier, because of the diminished force requirement.
The mechanical advantage that the machine brings ? or the ratio between the force applied and the resistance offered by the load against which the force is acting upon ? can be calculated by a simple formula,, but it must be kept in mind that this is the theoretical value of the machine?s advantage, as friction is always responsible for a small decrease in this efficiency. By looking at the formula (and not taking into account friction), we get:
distance moved by effort x effort force = distance moved by load x load force
*or after its rearrangement*
distance moved by effort = load force
distance moved by load effort force
By looking once again at the ramp example, we can see that its mechanical advantage is 4/2 (the distance moved by the effort ? 4m ? divided by the distance moved by the load ? 2m ? or the load force – 100N divided by the effort force ? 50N.) , or 2, meaning that the use of the ramp makes the task of pulling the block uphill twice as easy.
This efficiency of a machine can also be calculated, by looking at the ratio between the amount of energy produced (the output) and the amount of energy expended (the input). Because once again, some extra work must be done against friction, thus ?losing? some energy to the surrounding in the form of heat, the efficiency of a machine will never be 100%.
Again, we can apply this formula to the ramp example:
If the Efficiency of a machine = output energy ,
input energy
and supposing that the ramp is 75% efficient (due to friction) the efficiency of the ramp would be
75 = 200 and after its rearrangement input energy = 200 x 100
100 input energy 75
This would result in a 266.7 J energy expenditure, transferred over a total distance of 4 metres, meaning that a force of 66.7 N would be the force you would need to use. We can see that this is a much smaller force then the force that would be needed to lift the block straight up, though not experiencing friction:
Output energy = (100N x 2m) = 200 = 200
Input energy Input energy 1 (efficiency is 100%
- no friction)
These 200Nm would then have to be divided by 2M, which is the distance that the force need to be applied over, ,meaning that a force of 100N would be needed to pull this block straight up, a larger force then the 66.7N needed with the use of the slope.
Another type of machine, serving the same function of transferring energy from one point to another is also very important to our world. They are known as Hydraulic machines, and they transport power by means of working fluid, such as oil, and they are used in situations or in machines for the transfer of forces over distances where mechanical linkages would be less appropriate. A good example is the braking system of a car, where the force exerted on the brake pedal is transmitted through a hydraulic line to work the brake at the wheel.
Machines such as the wheel date all the way back to prehistoric times, when man first began to make its attempts at this shape.
LeverThe lever is a simple machine made with a bar free to move about a fixed point called a fulcrum. Any tool that pries something loose is a lever. They are extremely useful, as depending on the distance from the fulcrum, meaning the further you go, the less effort you need to move something. It is even possible for a single child to lift and entire elephant depending on their distance from the pivot point. This principle is based on the moments principle and the formula moment = force (N) x distance from pivot point (m), showing that the further you are from the pivot point, the bigger the moment is, even with the same force exerted. You can find levers everywhere – the claw end of a hammer that you use to pry nails loose, the hand shovel which you use to remove weeds from your flowerbed, your elbow ? all levers. There are three types of levers:A first class lever, or a force multiplier is when the pivot is nearer to the load, because the effort is less then the load. I the pivot is nearer to the effort, the lever is a distance multiplier, meaning the load moves more then the effort. A good example for this type of lever is a see-saw- one end will lift an object (child) up just as far as the other end is pushed down.A second class lever is a lever where the effort always moves more then the load, and it is a force multiplier. The effort is less then the load, but it moves through a larger distance. A good example is a like a wheel barrow. The long handles of a wheel barrow are really the long arms of a lever, helping to carry then weight.A third class lever, is a distance multiplier, where the load always moves more then the effort. In this lever, the load force is less then the effort force. Take a fishing pole for example – when the pole is given a tug, one end stays still but the other end flips in the air catching the fish.
A lot of levers can be found in ?our? machine, in the human body. At first glance, the human body seems to be built wrong, as the levers are all backwards. Consider the elbow- when you hold a can of soda in your hand with your elbow bent at a right angle, the weight of the can pulls the lower arm down, pivoting it about the elbow joint. The bicep muscle pulls up on the lower arm, fighting gravity and holding the arm in place, but as anyone who has used a lever knows, the farther the force is from the pivot, the greater the twisting force, or torque, it exerts. If you push on a door at the knob, it pivots easily on its hinges, but if you try to push a door open with your hand placed only a few inches from the hinge, the closer your hand is to the hinge, the more difficult it is to open the door. Similarly, the can is five times further from the elbow than the bicep attachment. For example, to hold up a one-pound can, the bicep muscle must pull up with five pounds of force.
The whole human body is designed this way. Almost every muscle, including those of the hand, works at a mechanical disadvantage. The muscle must exert more force than the weight opposing it. This happens because the muscles cannot move very far. Looking at out body right now as it stands, the muscle must exert five pounds of force to lift a one-pound can, but if the can is lifted one foot, the muscle only needs to contract one-fifth of a foot, a little over two inches. If the body were designed with a mechanical advantage of five, then the muscle would only have to pull with one-fifth of a pound of force, but it would have to contract five feet, and our elbows would drag across the ground.
Другие работы по теме:
Work In Relation To Bikes Essay Research
Paper PULLEYS The bike uses many different types of simple machines to move and stop. The simple machine that makes it go is the pedals and gears, and the simple machine that makes it stop is the brakes.
The Machine Stops Essay Research Paper It
The Machine Stops Essay, Research Paper It is the end of the world as we know it?. or at least most of us do. It is books like that of Foresters that shove the truth in our faces so that it is almost impossible to deny the fact that we (the human race) will in the end create, and employ the machines that will lead to our own demise.
Technology Impact Essay Research Paper The use
Technology Impact Essay, Research Paper The use and rapid growth of technology has often be seen to many of the working class as a bad omen, like a cancer it spreads and gradually, one surcum to the inevitable. One occasion which arose and was met with resilience occured in England in 1811 when the revolutionary crop machine became the center of attention.
Impact Of Technology Essay Research Paper We
Impact Of Technology Essay, Research Paper We live in 21th century which century of develop, everyday, we hear and see many many new products. Some of them was made by a bad purpose, however, the futture will be better than today with impact of technology for serveral reasons.First of all, in future robots will instead of people to do monotonous, hard and risk work.
Steel Washing Machines Essay Research Paper As
Steel Washing Machines Essay, Research Paper As I open the double glass doors at the wash pub I am overwhelmed with all of the noise. This place sounds more like a bar than a laundry mat. There is music playing,
Artificial Intelligence Essay Research Paper A Critical
Artificial Intelligence Essay, Research Paper A Critical Analysis of “12: Machines Will Be Smarter Than We Are” In today’s rapidly changing world, technology has given us a possible future in the field of Artificial Intelligence. An August, 1999 article entitled “12: Machines Will Be Smarter Than We Are,” explains how Artificial Intelligence is inevitable.
Descartes And Searle Essay Research Paper As
Descartes And Searle Essay, Research Paper As a psychology major, one of topics that I find most interesting in philosophy is the mind/body problem. This can be defined as the relationship between the immaterial mind and the material body.
Technological Innovations In Business Essay Research Paper
Technology seems to effect all major industries today, and new innovations are coming about on a daily basis. Although there are many important innovations that have a large impact on the business world, there are also those innovations that change the businesses that provide us with recreational activities.
America Paper Essay Research Paper You know
America Paper Essay, Research Paper You know the feeling. You can?t turn on the big game without one. You can?t listen to your stereo system without one. DVD? Nope! Where is the damn thing? I?m holding three, but they?re not the right one. The ?remote? always seem to be just that? remote.
Time Traveler Essay Research Paper There are
Time Traveler Essay, Research Paper There are three working theories the ?Time Traveler? developed upon his visit to the distant future. The first is the laziness of what human-kind has
Tesla Quotes Essay Research Paper Tesla on
Tesla Quotes Essay, Research Paper Tesla on the D.C. motor In a paper presented before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1888, Tesla criticized the illogical construction of the D.C. motor.
Philosophy That People And Animals Are Persons
But Not Machines Essay, Research Paper What Constitutes Being a Person? What constitutes being a ?person?? The question of the week. No clear cut conclusions have been reached. No argument has been presented without significant loop holes. So, what to think? Well, within this chaos we all seem to have an opinion.
Range Against The Machines- Kurt Vonnegut
’s Player Piano Essay, Research Paper Rage Against the Machines In Kurt Vonnegut?s first novel, Player Piano, he brings up quite a few interesting points. His portrayal of a United States that has become a slave to it?s own ingenuity is somewhat entertaining. What really got to me was the fact that it?s easy to imagine people acting the way they did.
Can Machines Think Essay Research Paper Artificial
Can Machines Think Essay, Research Paper Artificial Intelligence is a broad topic, consisting of different fields, from machine vision to expert systems. Nowadays with the use of high level techniques, computers have been programmed to solve many difficult problems, but the products that are available today are only a sample of what is coming in the future.
Working Class Essay Research Paper First of
Working Class Essay, Research Paper First of all, the working class evolved in England. This happened mostly because England was the first to use machines for mass production. For instance, with new inventions like the Spinning Jenny machines in England, it caused a revolution to take place in England first.
Ndustrial Revolutions Effects On Europe Essay Research
Paper name = Justin Katz email = TRipLeZeR0@juno publish = yes subject = Europe History title = Industrial Revolutions effects on Europe papers = The Industrial Revolution had an overall positive effect on Europe. This
Poem My Journey Essay Research Paper My
Poem: My Journey Essay, Research Paper My Journey My journey through Nature’s community, A community of green Aging giants of nature. Standing in brown dead needles,
Mechanistic Organismic And Contextualist Essay Research Paper
1) Mechanistic, Organismic, and Contextualist, world views all approach understanding lives differently. Explain. Theories that share worldviews may differ on the particulars and may even be in opposition on some points, but they still share a set of basic assumptions or building blocks that each has used in arriving at it’s conclusions (Goldhaber, 9).
Type Write Essay Research Paper typewriterNoiseless typewriters
Type Write Essay, Research Paper typewriter Noiseless typewriters. The noiseless linkage is a variation of the conventional typebar linkage causing the typebar to strike the platen at a lower velocity but with the same momentum. Although it produces less noise than the conventional typewriter, the noiseless typewriter cannot produce as fine an impression or as many carbon copies.
Comparison Of Political Machines And The Reform
Movement Essay, Research Paper Compare and contrast political machines and the reform movement in terms of their views of the purposes of politics and government, the role of the average citizen in public affairs, and the appropriate processes of decision making.
People And Machines Essay Research Paper People
People And Machines Essay, Research Paper People and Machines The problem is not with the machine: it is with the man who allows himself to become mechanical. People work on machines all day long. Many of
Can Machines Think 2 Essay Research Paper
Can Machines Think? With the recent advances of technology, a computer being able to think for themselves is not a far cry away. But is it a reasonable analogy? Computers have been built as goal-oriented systems. Whether the goal is to beat the best chess player humankind has come to acknowledge or figure out the microscopic measurements for the distance between us and another planet.
Urbanization In Britain Essay Research Paper Environmental
Urbanization In Britain Essay, Research Paper Environmental Problems in Britain during the Victorian Era: Several factors in Great Britain during the Victorian age came together to form numerous problems. One problem among many was the issue of the environment. The new technology of the Industrial Revolution caused many problems for the Britain s environment.
Weight Training Report Essay Research Paper Weight
Weight Training Report Essay, Research Paper Weight Training In the past six weeks i have progressed in many different ways such as learning what the machines are called, learning how to use the machines so that i don’t get hurt
Book Report On Ss
“In Another Country” Essay, Research Paper In this paper the author will discuss with the reader the short story “In Another Country.” You the reader should pay close attention to the main theme of the story that will be discussed at length. At the end of this paper the reader will know a small amount about “In Another Country” and should understand the lost generation theme.
Fatal Machines Essay Research Paper Fatal MachinesHave
Fatal Machines Essay, Research Paper Fatal Machines Have you noticed how careless people can be when they are behind the wheel of an automobile? Cars are dangerous machines which require patient drivers. Over the years technology has made cars safer. Many people think they are indestructible when they?re behind the wheel.
Pull The Plug Essay Research Paper Just
Pull The Plug Essay, Research Paper Just for a minute, imagine yourself no longer in control of your body. Your mind is not really very useful anymore either. You can t recognize anyone, you don t know who you are, and you will only get worse. You are in pain and the medicine is not doing the trick, but you can no longer communicate that fact.
Where Did UNIX Come From And Why
Are There Different Versions Of UNIX? Essay, Research Paper Where Did UNIX Come From and Why Are There Different Versions Of UNIX? The first efforts at developing a multi-user, multi-tasking operating system