Mechanical Advantage
Force amplification of a simple machine.
Formula
Live Calculator
MembersVariables
Example
A lever giving 200 N out for 50 N in has MA = 200/50 = 4.
How it works
Mechanical advantage tells you how much a machine multiplies an applied force. It is found by comparing the force the machine delivers to the force you put in, so a value greater than 1 means the machine makes the output force larger than the input force. This comes from the idea that simple machines trade force for distance or speed: if the force increases, the input usually has to move farther or faster to produce that gain.
When to use it
Use this formula when analyzing simple machines such as levers, pulleys, ramps, gears, or wedges. It helps you judge whether a machine makes lifting or moving an object easier by increasing force.
Worked example, step by step
A pulley system has an input force of 30 N and produces an output force of 150 N. MA = F_out / F_in MA = 150 / 30 MA = 5 The mechanical advantage is 5, meaning the machine multiplies the input force by 5.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Swapping input and output forces in the fraction
- Using mass instead of force without converting to newtons
- Thinking a larger mechanical advantage means less work is always required
Did You Know?
Give Archimedes a lever and a place to stand, he said, and he could move the Earth.
Share this formula
More in Physics
View allNewton's Second Law
BasicForce equals mass times acceleration.
Kinetic Energy
BasicEnergy of a moving object.
Gravitational Potential Energy
BasicEnergy stored due to height in a gravitational field.
Work Done
BasicWork done by a force over a distance.
Power
BasicRate of doing work.
Momentum
BasicQuantity of motion of an object.