A crate required 900 newtons (N) of force to lift. The crate was lifted by a forklift with an engine that provided 225 N of force. What is the mechanical advantage of the forklift?
A. 0.25
B. 4
C. 1,125
D. 202,500
Answer (2)
The problem provides the output force (900 N) and the input force (225 N).
Mechanical advantage (MA) is calculated as the ratio of output force to input force: M A = input force output force .
Substitute the given values into the formula: M A = 225 900 .
Calculate the mechanical advantage: M A = 4 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given that a crate requires 900 N of force to lift, which is the output force. The forklift provides 225 N of force, which is the input force. We need to find the mechanical advantage (MA) of the forklift using the formula: M A = input force output force
Substituting the Values Now, we substitute the given values into the formula: M A = 225 N 900 N
Calculating the Mechanical Advantage Performing the division, we find the mechanical advantage: M A = 4
Final Answer Therefore, the mechanical advantage of the forklift is 4.
Examples
Mechanical advantage is a useful concept in engineering and physics. For example, when designing a lever, knowing the required mechanical advantage helps determine the placement of the fulcrum to minimize the force needed to lift a heavy object. Similarly, in designing gears or pulley systems, understanding mechanical advantage allows engineers to optimize the system for specific tasks, such as lifting heavy loads with minimal effort. This principle is also applied in everyday tools like scissors or pliers, where the design leverages mechanical advantage to amplify the force applied by the user.
The mechanical advantage of the forklift is 4, calculated using the formula M A = input force output force by substituting the values of 900 N (output) and 225 N (input).
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