Question #a3649

1 Answer
Paul N.
Mar 23, 2017

MA is an abbreviation for Mechanical Advantage. It describes the ratio of force input to force output.

Explanation:

#MA = F_("input")/F_("output")#

Consider a lever that has a total length of 5 meters. Place the fulcrum of the lever at 1 meter from one end. The ratio between the length of the two ends of the lever is 4-to-1. To lift a mass of 4 kg positioned at the end of the short side requires a force equivalent to 1 kg on the end of the long side.

Force isn't actually measured in kg. The force required to lift 4 kg against earth's gravity is approximately 40 Newtons. And the force supplied by a 1 kg mass would be about 10 Newtons.

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