What Is the Trade Off for a Smaller Force (Levers)

What is the Trade off for a Smaller Force (Levers)

Materials:

Balance Beam
Meter sticks (x2)
Spring scale
Fulcrum
Mass (2 liter pop bottle)

Work = Force x Distance

W=F x D

1)Pick up the bottle with a spring scale. Record how many Newtons in Table 1. This will be your OUTPUT FORCE. This number will not change.

2)Set up the lever as shown below. Situation A

3)Hook the spring scale at point X

4)Hook the bottle at point A.

5)Lift the bottle 10 cm. This is your OUTPUT DISTANCE. This number will not change FOR SITUATION B or C

6)How much force was required to lift the bottle? This will be your INPUT FORCE.

7)How far did you have to move the lever at point X. This will be your INPUT DISTANCE.

8)Set up the lever as shown below. Situation B

9)Hook the spring scale at point X

10)Hook the bottle at point B.

11)Record how much force is required to lift the bottle in the INPUT FORCE portion of table 1.

12)To move the bottle 10cm how far did point X move? Record this distance in the INPUT DISTANCE

13) Set up the lever as shown below. Situation C

14)Hook the spring scale at point X

15)Hook the bottle at point C.

16)Record how much force is required to lift the bottle in the INPUT FORCE portion of table 1.

17)To move the bottle 10cm how far did point X move? Record this distance in the INPUT DISTANCE

Table 1

Situation / Output Force / Output
Distance / Output
Work / Input Force / Input Distance / Input
Work
A / .1 m
B / .1m
C / .1m

18) Use the formula W = f x d to calculate work..

19) How does Output work compare to Input Work? ______

20)What is the advantage of a simple machine? ______

21)What is the disadvantage of a simple machine? ______

22)What does not change when using a simple machine? ______