What is the mechanical advantage of a wedge that is 2 inches at its widest part and has a sloped side with a length of 10 inches?

Question

Physics

Brenda Ochoa

24 December, 18:12

What is the mechanical advantage of a wedge that is 2 inches at its widest part and has a sloped side with a length of 10 inches?

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Answers (1)

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Matilda Obrien · Answer 1

Mechanical Advantage = 5

Explanation:

The mechanical advantage of a wedge is given by the formula:

MA = L/h

where L is the length of the slope and h is the height.

Here, we have a length of L=10 inches and a height of h=2 inches, so the mechanical advantage is:

MA = L/h

= 10/2

MA = 5

When a machine takes a small input force and increases the magnitude of the output force, a mechanical advantage is produced. When the input force of a machine is 10 pounds and output force is 100 pounds, the mechanical advantage (MA) of 10 is produced which is given below:

MA = Output Force / Input Force

= 100 lbs/10 lbs

= 10

A device that is commonly used to produce mechanical advantage is the automobile jack. The force amount that is applied to the jack handle is multiplied so that a small force can be used to produce a huge force that is needed to lift the automobile.