Which type of simple machine reduces the amount of input force needed?
sorry
ramp
chopsticks
hockey stick
weight machine
The type of simple machine that reduces the amount of input force needed is called a lever.
To understand how a lever reduces the amount of input force needed, let me explain the concept of a lever.
A lever is a rigid bar that pivots on a fixed point called a fulcrum. There are three parts to a lever: the fulcrum, the effort (or input) force, and the load (or output) force. The fulcrum is the point around which the lever rotates, the effort force is the force applied to the lever to make it move, and the load force is the force exerted by the lever on the object being moved.
There are three types of levers:
1. First-class lever: In a first-class lever, the fulcrum is positioned between the effort force and the load force. Examples include a seesaw, a crowbar, and a pair of scissors.
2. Second-class lever: In a second-class lever, the load force is located between the effort force and the fulcrum. Examples include a wheelbarrow, a nutcracker, and a bottle opener.
3. Third-class lever: In a third-class lever, the effort force is located between the fulcrum and the load force. Examples include a fishing rod, a baseball bat, and a broom.
In all three types of levers, the ratio of the distance between the fulcrum and the effort force to the distance between the fulcrum and the load force determines the mechanical advantage of the lever.
The mechanical advantage of a lever determines how much the input force is multiplied to lift or move a load. If the distance from the fulcrum to the effort force is greater than the distance from the fulcrum to the load force, the mechanical advantage is greater than 1, which means the lever reduces the amount of input force needed to move the load.
Therefore, the lever is the type of simple machine that reduces the amount of input force needed.