Simple machine 

Table of simple mechanisms, from 1728 encyclopedia. Simple machines provide a "vocabulary" for understanding more complex machines.
This article is about the concept in physics. For the Internet forum software, see Simple Machines Forum.

In physics and engineering, a simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force.1 In general, they can be defined as the simplest mechanisms that use mechanical advantage (also called leverage) to multiply force.2 A simple machine uses a single applied force to do work against a single load force. Ignoring friction losses, the work done on the load is equal to the work done by the applied force. They can be used to increase the amount of the output force, at the cost of a proportional decrease in the distance moved by the load. The ratio of the output to the input force is called the mechanical advantage.

Usually the term refers to the six classical simple machines which were defined by Renaissance scientists:3

They are the elementary "building blocks" of which all complicated machines are composed.24 For example, wheels, levers, and pulleys are all used in the mechanism of a bicycle. In the 20th century, a realization that at least one simple machine, the hydraulic press, had been left out, and arguments that some of the six classical devices can be considered as modifications of others (see below), has led some modern sources to avoid specifying any list of simple machines as "basic". Nevertheless, the above six are what is usually meant by "simple machine" and are still regarded as the foundation of mechanical technology, although the only reason for preferring this list to others is tradition.

Simple machines fall into two classes; those dependent on the vector resolution of forces (inclined plane, wedge, screw) and those in which there is an equilibrium of torques (lever, pulley, wheel).

Contents

History

The idea of a "simple machine" originated with the Greek philosopher Archimedes around the 3rd century BC, who studied the "Archimedean" simple machines: lever, pulley, and screw. He discovered the principle of mechanical advantage in the lever.5 His understanding was limited to the static balance of forces and did not include the tradeoff between force and distance moved. Heron of Alexandria (ca. 10–75 AD) in his work Mechanics lists five mechanisms with which a load can be set in motion: winch, lever, pulley, wedge, and screw.6 During the Renaissance the classic five simple machines (excluding the wedge) began to be studied as a group. The complete dynamic theory of simple machines was worked out by Italian scientist Galileo Galilei in 1600 in Le Meccaniche ("On Mechanics"). He was the first to understand that simple machines do not create energy, only transform it.7

Alternate definitions

Any list of simple machines is somewhat arbitrary; the central idea is that every mechanism that manipulates force should be able to be understood as a combination of devices on the list. Some variations that have been proposed to the classical list of six simple machines:

Frictionless analysis

Although each machine works differently, the way they function is similar mathematically. In each machine, a force F_{in}\, is applied to the device at one point, and it does work moving a load, F_{out}\, at another point. Although some machines only change the direction of the force, such as a stationary pulley, most machines multiply (or divide) the magnitude of the force by a factor, the mechanical advantage, that can be calculated from the machine's geometry. For example, the mechanical advantage of a lever is equal to the ratio of its lever arms.

Simple machines do not contain a source of energy, so they cannot do more work than they receive from the input force. When friction and elasticity are ignored, the work output (that is done on the load) is equal to the work input (from the applied force). The work is defined as the force multiplied by the distance it moves. So the applied force, times the distance the input point moves, D_{in}\,, must be equal to the load force, times the distance the load moves, D_{out}\,12:

F_{in}D_{in} = F_{out}D_{out}.\,

So the ratio of output to input force, the mechanical advantage, is the inverse ratio of distances moved:

Mechanical Advantage \equiv \frac{F_{out}}{F_{in}} = \frac{D_{in}}{D_{out}}. \,

In the screw, which uses rotational motion, the input force should be replaced by the torque, and the distance by the angle the shaft is turned.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Paul, Akshoy; Pijush Roy, Sanchayan Mukherjee (2005). Mechanical Sciences:Engineering Mechanics and Strength of Materials. Prentice Hall of India, 215. ISBN 8120326113. 
  2. ^ a b Asimov, Isaac (1988). Understanding Physics. New York: Barnes & Noble, 88. ISBN 0880292512. 
  3. ^ Anderson, William Ballantyne (1914). Physics for Technical Students: Mechanics and Heat. New York, USA: McGraw Hill, 112–122. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. 
  4. ^ Wallenstein, Andrew (June 2002). "Foundations of cognitive support: Toward abstract patterns of usefulness". Proceedings of the 9th Annual Workshop on the Design, Specification, and Verification of Interactive Systems, Springer. Retrieved on 2008-05-21. 
  5. ^ Ostdiek, Vern; Bord, Donald (2005). Inquiry into Physics. Thompson Brooks/Cole, 123. ISBN 0534491685. Retrieved on 2008-05-21. 
  6. ^ Strizhak, Viktor; Igor Penkov, Toivo Pappel (2004). "Evolution of design, use, and strength calculations of screw threads and threaded joints". HMM2004 International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms, Kluwer Academic publishers. ISBN 1402022034. Retrieved on 2008-05-21. 
  7. ^ Krebs, Robert E. (2004). Groundbreaking Experiments, Inventions, and Discoveries of the Middle Ages. Greenwood Publishing Group, 163. ISBN 0313324336. Retrieved on 2008-05-21. 
  8. ^ Carhart, Henry S.; Chute, Horatio N. (1917). Physics with Applications. Allyn & Bacom, 159–160. Retrieved on 2008-05-20. 
  9. ^ Isbell, Pam (2001). "Simple machines, or are they?". Grade 5–7 lesson plan. 2001 National Teacher Training Institute. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  10. ^ Clute, Willard N. (1917). Experimental General Science. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son & Co., 188. Retrieved on 2008-05-20. 
  11. ^ a b "Mechanical Advantage and Simple Machines". BNET Business Network. CNET (2002). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  12. ^ a b Beiser, Arthur (2004). Schaum's Outline of Applied Physics. McGraw-Hill, 145. ISBN 0071426116. Retrieved on 2008-05-21. 
  13. ^ This was first suggested by Blaise Pascal in the 17th century: Meli, Domenico Bertolini (2006). Thinking with Objects:The Transformation of Mechanics in the 17th Century. JHU Press. ISBN 0801884276.  p.175
  14. ^ "Mechanical Advantage - Simple Machines". MCAT Exam preparation. Eduturca (January 7, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.