Mechanical Systems 1-2 Flashcards
(54 cards)
what were early machines dependant on for energy?
people or animals
what is a simple machine?
a tool or device made up of one basic machine
what are the 6 simples machines?
● Lever
● Inclined plane
● Wedge
● Screw
● Pulley
● Wheel and axle
what are levers and what do they do?
● Rigid bars that can rotate around a fixed point called a pivot or fulcrum.
● Reduce the force or effort needed to carry out a task, such as hitting a
baseball, opening a bottle, pulling a nail and cutting paper.
● You can move a larger load, but you must move a greater distance.
what are the 3 types of levers?
There are 3 types of levers:
● First class lever - the fulcrum (F) is in the middle (between the load & the effort)
● Second class lever - the load (L) is in the middle (between the
fulcrum & the effort)
● Third class lever - the effort (E) is in the middle (between the
fulcrum & the load)
Remember: F, L, E = 1, 2 , 3
give an example of a first, second, and third class lever
- see saw
- wheel barrow
- snow shovel
what is an inclined plane?
● Alternatively, a ramp
● Makes it possible to lift heavy objects using a smaller force.
● You have to exert the force over a longer distance (compared to
lifting the object straight up).
● An inclined plane is only useful for small inclines.
what is a wedge?
● Is forced into an object.
● By pressing on the wide end of a wedge, you can exert a
greater force on the narrow end so it splits an object.
● A wedge can only be used in one direction.
what is a screw?
● A cylinder with a groove cut in a spiral on the outside.
● Using a screw increases the force needed to penetrate materials.
● A screw converts rotational (turning) motion to linear (straight line)
motion.
you use less effort, it creates more force
what is a pulley?
● Consists of wire, rope (or cable) moving on a grooved wheel.
● Pulleys can be made up of 1 or many wheels and can be
fixed in place or moveable.
● Pulleys help you lift larger loads than you could lift on your
own.
what is a wheel and axle?
● A combination of 2 wheels of different diameters that turn
together.
● A longer motion on the wheel produces a shorter but more
powerful motion at the axle.
● Can increase force, like a steering wheel and steering column. It can
also be used to increase speed, like wheels on a bike.
what are the 4 effects of simple machines?
- Changing the direction of force (e.g. pulley on
a flagpole) - Multiplying force (e.g. screwdriver)
- Increasing or decreasing speed (e.g. scissors)
- Transferring force (e.g. staple remover)
what are complex machines?
Devices that are made of several
simple machines
what is a system?
group of parts that work
together to perform a function
what is a subsystem?
● Within a complex machine there are groups of
parts that perform specific functions
● Subsystem has only one function
● In a bicycle, the steering system or braking
system
● Subsystems work together to complete the
task of the complex machine
what do linkages do?
Transfers energy from an energy
source to an object
how do chains and belts work?
● Form a direct link between two separate wheels.
● One wheel turns, the other will turn in the same direction
● If a wheel is larger it will turn slower, but with a greater force
● Chains have less chance of slipping than belts
● Belts are more flexible
how do transmissions work?
● Contains a number of different gears
● Able to move much larger loads
● Can use a large force to move objects slowly
● Can use a small force to move objects quickly
what are gears?
● Wheels with teeth that interlink
● One wheel transfers energy to the other, while rotating
● Gears can be used to change speed and direction of
motion
how do gears work?
● Control the transfer of energy in a system
● Work in gears trains of two or
more gears
what’s the difference between the driving and driven gears?
● Driving gear: Has force applied from outside the gear train
● Driven gear : has a force applied to it by the
driving gear
this is very top and bottom gay core but the driven gear is not always underneath the driving gear, it can be the other way around
how do gears affect speed?
● Different sizes of gears linked together in a chain with
change the speed of the system
● It will also change the amount of power the system has
what is it called when the driving gear is bigger than the driven gear?
● Known as multiplying gears
● Turning speed in the system increases
● When you rotate the large gear once the small one
rotates several times
what is it called when the driven gear is bigger than the driving gear?
● Known as reducing gears
● Turning speed in the system decrease
● When you rotate the smaller gear once the large one
rotates only a fraction