Machines make our work simpler. It is a force producing device by which a large force called load can be overcome by a small applied force called effort
Terminologies Used In Machines
- FORCE RATIO (MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE )
- VELOCITY RATIO
- EFFICIENCY
MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE
We define effort as the force applied to a machine and load as the resistance overcome by the machine. The ability of a machine to overcome a large load through a small effort is known as its mechanical advantage .It is given by
M.A = Load/ Effort
The mechanical advantage of a machine is influenced by friction in parts
VELOCITY RATIO (V.R)
The velocity ratio is the ratio of distance moved by the effort and load in the same interval
V.R = Distance moved by effort
Distance moved by the load
The velocity ratio depends on the geometry of the machine
EFFICIENCY (E)
The efficiency of a machine is defined as
Ef =Useful work done by the machine X 100
Work put into the machine
Work = force x distance
Ef = load x distance moved by load  x 100
Effort x distance moved by effort
Then V.R =M.A
TYPES OF MACHINES
- LEVER
This is the simplest form of machine. It consist of a rigid rod pivoted about a point called the fulcrum F with a small effort applied at one end of the lever to overcome a large load L at the other end . There are various types of lever depending on the  relative positions of the load, effort and fulcrum.
Taking moment about F
E x a = L x b  which is given
L = a =M.A
EÂ Â Â Â b
a/b = V.R
Examples of first class lever are the crowbar, pair of scissors or pincers, claw hammer, see-saw ,pliers etc
In second order lever , the load is between the fulcrum and effort
Examples are wheel barrow, nut cracker tarp door , an oar etc .
In the third order lever, the effort is between the fulcrum and the load . Human fore arm , laboratory tong etc.
2.    WHEEL AND AXLE
It consists of a large wheel to which a rope or string is attached and an axle or small wheel with the rope or string wound round it in opposite direction . The load to be lifted is hung at the free end of the rope on the axle while the effort is applied at the end of the rope on the wheel . For each complete rotation the load and the effort move through distance equal to the circumference of the wheel and axle respectively.
The principle of wheel and axle is used in brace screw driver but spanner windless and gear-boxes
- GEAR WHEELS
In gear boxes , there are toothed wheels of different diameter interlocked to give turning force at low speed depending on which gear is the driver and which is the driven
V.R = No of teeth on driven wheel ( A)
No of teeth on driving wheel (B)
4.    THE HYDRAULIC PRESS
The machine is widely used for compressing waste paper and cotton into compact bales forging different alloys into desirable shape etc .It s work is based on Pascal’s principle which states that pressure is transmitted equally in fluid Oil is the liquid normally used in hydraulic press
5.    THE WEDGE
The wedge is a combination of two inclined planes. It is used to separate bodies which are held together by large force .Examples of wedge type of machines are axes chisels knives etc.
M.A = Â X1 =Â Â Slant height of wedge
X0Â Â Â Â Â Thickness of wedge
6.    PULLEY
A simple pulley is a fixed wheel hung on a suitable support with a rope passing round its groove.
BLOCK AND TACKLE (PULLEY)
This is  the more practical system of pulleys in which one or more pulley are mounted on the same axle with one continuous rope passing all-round the pulleys
EFFECTS OF FRICTION ON MACHINE
Work is always wasted in machines to overcome the frictional forces present between the moving parts and also to lift to part of the machine. The greater the friction, the greater the effort required and the smaller the M.A. M.A depend on friction but depend on the geometry of moving parts.
The efficiency of nearly all the machines varies with the load and the load and effort are related by : E = al + b ( a and b are constant ).This is called linear law for a machine .It follows that E is proportional to L .The value to give us the effort required to operate the machine moving part only if no load is present while A gives us the measure of the friction present
=  M.A x 100
V.R
In practical machines the efficiency is usually less than 100% because of friction in the moving parts of the machine.
(1)INCLINED PLANE: This is in form of a sloping plank commonly used to raise heavy load such as barrels of oil with little applied effort than by lifting it vertically .
V.R = Distance moved by effort
Distance moved by load
= x /h ; V.R = 1/ sin θ
THE SCREW
Geometrically speaking the screw is an inclined plane wrapped round a cylinder to form a  thread. The distance between successive threads on a screw is called its pitch. For one complete revolution of screw through an effort , the load moves a distance equal to its pitch e.g. screw jack nut and bolt
In a screw jack where length of the operating handle is a, the effort moved a distance equal to the pitch P.
Thus V.R= -2Ï€a
P
= 2Ï€r
P
If frictional forces are negligible
ONLINE WORK
- (a) What is a machine? (b) Explain why a machine can never be 100% efficient.
- Define the following terms as applicable to machine (a) velocity ratio (ii) mechanical advantage (iii) efficiency
- A pulley with velocity ratio of 5 is used to lift a load of 400N through a vertical height of 8m by exerting an effort of 100N. Calculate the: (a) work done by the effort (b) efficiency of the pulley system
ASSIGNMENT
SECTION A
- The statement that the mechanical advantage of machine is 3 means that the (a) efficiency is 33 (b)Â effort is three times as large as the load (c) mechanical advantage is three times as large as velocity ratio (d) ratio of effort to load is 1:3
- In the diagram below XY represents a plank used to lift a load from a point X on the ground onto a horizontal platform YP.
What is the velocity ratio of the plank? (a) Â (b) (c) Â (d)
- A machine with a velocity ratio of 30 moves a load of 3000N when an effort of 200N is applied. The efficiency of the machine is (a) 30% (b) 50% (c) 60% (d) 75%
- The efficiency of a wheel and axle system is 80% and the ratio of radius of wheel to radius of the axle is 4 : 1, In order to lift a mass of 20kg,the effort required is (a) 60N (b) 62.5N (c) 32.5N (d) 250
- The velocity ratio of an inclined plane whose angle of inclination is ÆŸ is (a) sin ÆŸ (b) cos ÆŸ (c) tan ÆŸ (d) 1/sin ÆŸ
- Which of the following is not an example of levers of the first order? (a) crow bar (b) Nutcracker (c) scissors (d) pliers
- A body of mass 7.5kg is to be pulled up along a plane which is inclined at 300 to the horizontal. If the efficiency of the plane is 75%, what is the minimum force required to pull the body up the plane? [g=10ms-2] (a) 5.0N (b) 20.0N (c) 50.0N (d) 200.0N
- Calculate the velocity ratio of a screw jack of pitch 0.3cm if the length of the tommy bar is 21cm (a) (b) 14Ï€(c) 70Ï€ (d) 140Ï€
- A machine with a velocity ratio of 5 is used to raise a load with an effort of 500N. If the machine is 80% efficient, determine the magnitude of the load (a) 2500N (b) 2000N (c) 1200N (d) 625N
- A block and tackle system of pulley has 6 pulleys. If the efficiency of the machine is 60%, determine its mechanical advantage (a) 12.0 (b) 10.0 (c) 3.6 (d) 1.8
SECTION B
- Show that efficiency E, the force ration (MA) and the velocity ratio (VR) of a machine are related by the equation
- (a) Draw a diagram of a system of pulleys with a velocity ratio of 5 (b) A man pulls up a box of mass 70kg using an inclined plane of effective length 5m onto a platform 2.5m high at uniform speed. If the frictional force between the box and plane is 100N, draw the diagram of forces acting on the box when in motion and calculate the; (i) minimum effort applied in pulling up the box (ii) velocity ratio of the plane (iii) mechanical advantage of the plane (iv) efficiency of the plane (v) energy lost in the system (vi) work output of the man (vii) total power developed by the man given that the time taken to raise the box onto the platform is 50seconds [g=10ms-2]
- A screw jack, 25% efficient and having a screw of pitch 0.4cm is used to raise a load through a certain height. If in the process the handle turns through a circle of radius 40cm, calculate the (a) velocity ratio of the machine (b) the mechanical advantage of the machine (c) effort required to raise a load of 100N with the machine [Ï€=3.14]
See also