Simple Machines Worksheet Machines make | Chegg.com - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to solve the problems on this worksheet. We’ll focus on the two main questions at the bottom of the “Simple Machines” section:

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Question 1: What is the mechanical advantage of the inclined plane?

We are given:
- Length of ramp (input distance) = 10 m
- Height of ramp (output distance) = 1 m

For an inclined plane, Mechanical Advantage (MA) is calculated as:

> MA = input distance / output distance
> or
> MA = length of ramp / height of ramp

So plug in the numbers:

> MA = 10 m / 1 m = 10

✔ So the mechanical advantage is 10.

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Question 2: What is the weight of the cart assuming no friction?

We’re told that a person pushes with a force of 50 N up the ramp.

In simple machines (with no friction), the work input equals work output:

> Work Input = Work Output
> Force_input × Distance_input = Force_output × Distance_output

Here:
- Force_input = 50 N
- Distance_input = 10 m (length of ramp)
- Distance_output = 1 m (height lifted)
- Force_output = weight of the cart (what we’re solving for)

So:

> 50 N × 10 m = Weight × 1 m
> 500 N·m = Weight × 1 m
> Weight = 500 N

✔ So the weight of the cart is 500 Newtons.

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Now let’s quickly fill in some blanks from the top part just to make sure you understand the concepts (even though they weren’t asked directly):

- Machines make work easier.
- Energy is conserved, so same amount of energy in or out → machine Mechanical Advantage (MA).
- For lever: MA = d_in / d_out
- Uses fulcrum with force at N (probably means pivot point and applied force)
- F_i * d_i = F_o * d_o → conservation of energy/work
- When F ↑, ↓ → if force increases, distance decreases (trade-off)
- MA ≈ r_large / r_small → for wheel and axle
- Inclined Plane: ramp – less force to slide up, but longer distance
- Screw: inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder
- Wedge: Two inclined planes back-to-back
- Pulley: Grooved wheel; Changed direction of force; In combination, can multiply force

And for muscles:
- Muscles only pull, so they come in pairs
- Attached to bones close to joints using tendons
- This makes muscles supply more force than is needed? Wait — actually, it’s the opposite: because the muscle attaches close to the joint (short input arm), it must exert more force to move a load farther away (long output arm). So:
→ Input force > output force? Actually, no — wait, let’s think:

Actually, in levers like our arms, the muscle applies force close to the fulcrum (joint), so the input arm is short, output arm is long → that means mechanical advantage < 1, meaning you need more input force to lift a smaller output load. But the benefit is speed and range of motion.

So:
- Input force > output force? Not exactly — depends on what you mean. If output force is the weight being lifted, then yes — your bicep might exert 500 N to lift a 50 N dumbbell. So input force > output force.

But the blank says: “Input force _________ output force” → likely greater than

And MA = output force / input force → which would be less than 1 for most muscle-lever systems.

But since the question doesn’t ask us to calculate anything there, we’ll leave it.

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Final Answer:

The mechanical advantage of the inclined plane is 10.
The weight of the cart (assuming no friction) is 500 N.