Machines

Class 10 - Concise Physics Selina

Exercise 3(A)

Question 1

(a) What do you understand by a simple machine?

(b) State the principle of an ideal machine.

Answer

(a) A machine is a device by which we can either overcome a large resistive force (or load) at
some point by applying a small force (or effort) at a convenient point and in a desired
direction or by which we can obtain a gain in speed.

(b) An ideal machine is that in which there is no loss of energy in any manner. Here, the work
output is equal to the work input, i.e. its efficiency is 100%.

Question 2

State four ways in which machines are useful to us?

Answer

Machines are useful to us in —

(a) Changing the point of application of effort to a convenient point.

(b) Lifting a heavy load by applying a less effort.

(c) Changing the direction of effort to a convenient direction.

(d) For obtaining a gain in speed.

Question 3

Name a machine for each of the following use —

(a) to multiply the force,

(b) to change the point of application of force,

(c) to change the direction of force,

(d) to obtain the gain in speed.

Answer
(a) In order to multiply the force — a bar is used to lift a heavy stone.

(b) In order to change the point of application of force — The rear wheel of a cycle is rotated
by applying the effort on the pedal attached to the toothed wheel which is joined to the rear
wheel with the help of a chain.

(c) In order to change the direction of force — to lift a bucket full of water from the well, a
single fixed pulley is used by applying the effort in the downward direction instead of
applying it upwards when the bucket is lifted up without the use of pulley.

(d) In order to obtain gain in speed — A knife. The blade of a knife moves longer by a small
displacement of its handle.

Question 4

What is the purpose of a jack in lifting a car by it?

Answer

A jack is a mechanical lifting device used to lift heavy loads.

A jack works as a force multiplier, as with a little effort on the jack we are able to lift heavy
load like a car. It acts as a force multiplier.

Question 5

What do you understand by an ideal machine? How does it differ from a practical machine?

Answer

An ideal machine is that where there is no loss of energy i.e. the work output is equal to the
work input. An ideal machine is 100% efficient.

In a practical machine output energy is always less than the input energy i.e. there is some
loss of energy during the operation which is not the case in an ideal machine.

Question 6

Explain the term mechanical advantage. State its unit.

Answer

The ratio of the load to the effort is called mechanical advantage of the machine.

Mechanical Advantage=LoadEffortMechanical Advantage=EffortLoad

As mechanical advantage is a ratio of similar quantities so it has no unit.

Define the term velocity ratio. State its unit.

Answer

Velocity ratio is defined as the ratio of the velocity of effort to the velocity of the load.

Velocity Ratio=Velocity of effortVelocity of loadVelocity Ratio=Velocity of loadVelocity of

As velocity ratio is a ratio of two similar quantities, so it has no unit.

Question 8

How is mechanical advantage related to the velocity ratio for

(i) an ideal machine,

(ii) a practical machine?

Answer

(i) For an ideal machine (free from friction etc.), work output is equal to the work input, so
the efficiency is equal to 1 ( or 100% ) and the mechanical advantage is numerically equal to
the velocity ratio. So,

For an ideal machine, M.A. = V.R.

(ii) In the case of a practical machine, the mechanical advantage is always less than its
velocity ratio or the output work is always less than the input work as some of the input
energy is lost due to the force of friction etc. So,

For a practical machine, M.A. < V.R.

Question 9

Define the term efficiency of a machine. Give two reasons for a machine not to be 100%
efficient?

Answer

The efficiency of a machine is defined as the ratio of the work done on load by the machine
to the work done on the machine by the effort.

�=Work outputWork Inputη=Work InputWork output

It has no unit as it is the ratio of two similar quantities.

A machine is not always 100% efficient due to —

(a) friction
(b) weight of moving parts of machine of a given design.

Due to the above reasons, the velocity ratio of the machine does not change but it's
mechanical advantage decreases so its efficiency decreases.

Question 10

When does a machine act as

(a) a force multiplier

(b) a speed multiplier?

Can a machine act as a force multiplier and speed multiplier simultaneously?

Answer

(a) A machine acts as a force multiplier when the effort arm is longer than the load arm. The
mechanical advantage in such cases is greater than 1.

(b) A machine acts as a speed multiplier when the effort arm is shorter than the load arm. The
mechanical advantage in such cases is less than 1.

No, it is not possible for a machine to act as a force multiplier and speed multiplier
simultaneously.

For a machine used as a force multiplier, effort < load while for a machine used to obtain a
gain in speed, effort > load. Hence, it is not possible for a single machine to act as both,
simultaneously.

Question 11

A machine works as a

(i) force multiplier,

(ii) speed multiplier.

In each case state whether the velocity ratio is more than or less than 1.

Answer

(i) When a machine works as a force multiplier then the displacement of the load is less than
the displacement of effort. Hence, the velocity ratio is more than 1.

(ii) When a machine works as a speed multiplier then the displacement of load is more than
displacement of effort. Hence, the velocity ratio is less than 1.
Question 12

(a) State the relationship between mechanical advantage, velocity ratio and efficiency.

(b) Name the term that will not change for a machine of a given design.

Answer

(a) The mechanical advantage of a machine is equal to the product of its efficiency and
velocity ratio.

M.A. = V.R. x η

(b) The term that does not change for a machine of a given design is its velocity ratio.

Question 14

How is mechanical advantage related to the velocity ratio for an actual machine? State
whether the efficiency of such a machine is equal to 1, less than 1 or more than 1.

Answer

For an actual machine, the mechanical advantage is always less than its velocity ratio or the
output work is always less than the input work.

The efficiency of such a machine is always less than 1 as some part of input energy is lost
against the force of friction.

Question 15

State one reason why mechanical advantage is less than the velocity ratio for an actual
machine.

Answer

The mechanical advantage of an actual machine is always less than the velocity ratio as there
is a loss of energy due to friction.

Question 16

What is a lever? State its principle.

Answer

A lever is a rigid, straight (or bent) bar which is capable of turning about a fixed axis.

A lever works on the principle of moments, according to which in the equilibrium position of
levers, moment of load about the fulcrum must be equal to the moment of effort about the
fulcrum and the two moments must be in opposite directions.
Question 18

Name the three classes of levers and state how are they distinguished. Give two examples of
each class.

Answer

The three classes of levers are —

(i) Class I levers — In this type of the levers, the fulcrum F is in between the effort E and the
load L.

Example — a seesaw, a pair of scissors

(ii) Class II levers — In these type of levers, the fulcrum F and the effort E are at the two
ends of the lever and the load L is somewhere in between the effort E and the fulcrum F.

Example — a nutcracker, a bottle opener.

(iii) Class III levers — In these type of levers, the fulcrum F and the load L are at the two
ends of the lever and the effort E is somewhere in between the fulcrum F and the load L.

Example — sugar tongs, foot treadle.

Question 19

Give one example each of a class I lever where the mechanical advantage is

(a) more than 1, and

(b) less than 1.

Answer

(a) For a class I lever, the mechanical advantage is more than 1 in the case of shears used for
cutting the thin metal sheets.

(b) For a class I lever, the mechanical advantage is less than 1 in case of a pair of scissors
whose blades are longer than its handles.

Question 20

What is the use of a lever if its mechanical advantage is

(a) more than 1,

(b) equal to 1, and

(c) less than 1?

(a) When the mechanical advantage is more the 1, the lever serves as force multiplier i.e. it
enables us to overcome a large resistive force (load) by a small effort.

(b) When the mechanical advantage is equal to 1, the lever has effort arm and load arm of
equal lengths like in a physical balance with both arms equal in length.

(c) When the mechanical advantage is less than 1, the levers are used to obtain the gain in
speed. This means that the displacement of load is more as compared to the displacement of
effort.

Question 21

Both a pair of scissors and a pair of pliers belong to the same class of levers. Name the class
of lever. Which one has the mechanical advantage less than 1?

Answer

A pair of scissors and a pair of pliers both belong to class I lever.

As the blades of the scissors are longer than its handles, so the effort arm is shorter than the
load arm. Hence, the mechanical advantage of a pair of scissors is less than 1.

Question 22

Explain why scissors for cutting cloth may have blades longer than the handles, but shears for
cutting metals have short blades and long handles.

Answer

A pair of scissors which is used to cut a piece of cloth has blades longer than the handles i.e.
it has effort arm shorter than load arm so that the blades move longer on the cloth when the
handles are moved a little.

Shears used for cutting metals have short blades and long handles i.e. it's effort arm is longer
than the load arm and acts as a force multiplier which helps us to overcome large resistive
force by a small effort.

Question 23

Figure shows a uniform metre rule of weight W supported on a fulcrum at the 60 cm mark by
applying the effort E at the 90 cm mark.

(a) State with reasons whether the weight W of the rule is greater than, less than or equal to
the effort E.
(b) Find the mechanical advantage in an ideal case.

Answer

(a) The weight W of the scale is greater than E.

The effort arm is 30 cm and the load arm is 10 cm. In order to balance the scale — weight
(W) of scale has to be more than effort (E).

Question 24

Which type of lever has a mechanical advantage always more than 1? Give reason with one
example. What change can be made in this lever to increase its mechanical advantage?

Answer

The Class II levers have mechanical advantage always greater than 1 and the reason for this is
that, the load and effort are on same side of the fulcrum but in opposite directions and the
effort arm is always greater than the load arm.

Therefore, mechanical advantage is always greater than 1.

This type of levers act as a force multiplier so less effort is needed to overcome a large load.

Example — a nut cracker

In order to increase the mechanical advantage, we can increase the length of effort arm.

Question 25

Draw a diagram of a lever which is always used as a force multiplier. How is the effort arm
related to the load arm in such a lever?

Answer

A Class II lever acts as a force multiplier as the mechanical advantage is always greater than
1 and the effort arm is longer than the load arm.
Question 26

Explain why the mechanical advantage of a class II type of lever is always more than 1.

Answer

In Class II levers, the fulcrum F and the effort E are at the two ends of the lever and the load
L is somewhere in between the effort E and the fulcrum F.

So, the load and the effort are on the same side of the fulcrum but in opposite directions and
the effort arm is always longer than the load arm.

Therefore, the mechanical advantage is always greater than 1.

Questions 27

Draw a labelled diagram of a Class II lever. Give one example of such a lever.

Answer

The figure below represents a Class II lever.

A nut cracker is an example of a class II lever.

Question 28

Figure shows a lemon crusher.

(a) In the diagram, mark the position of the directions of load L and effort E.

(b) Name the class of lever.

Answer

(a) Labelled diagram of lemon crusher is shown below:

Question 29

The diagram below shows a rod lifting a stone.

(a) Mark position of fulcrum F and draw arrows to show the directions of load L and effort E.

(b) What class of lever is the rod?

(c) Give one more example of the same class of lever stated in part (b).

Answer

(a) Below diagram shows the position of fulcrum F and the directions of load L and effort E:

(b) The rod is a Class II lever as the load is between fulcrum and effort.

(c) A nut cracker is also an example of a Class II lever.

Question 30

State the kind of lever which always has the mechanical advantage less than 1. Draw a
labelled diagram of such a lever.

Answer

The Class III levers have mechanical advantage always less than 1.
Question 31

Explain why the mechanical advantage of the class III lever is always less than 1.

Answer

The fulcrum F and the load L are at the two ends of the lever and the effort E is somewhere in
between the fulcrum F and the load L.

The effort and the load are on the same side of fulcrum but in opposite directions and the
effort arm is always smaller than the load arm. Therefore, the mechanical advantage of class
III lever is always less than 1.

Question 32

Classes III levers have mechanical advantage less than 1. Why are they then used?

Answer

Class III levers have mechanical advantage less than 1 so as effort arm is always less than the
load arm, so we do not get gain in force, but we get gain in speed, i.e. a larger displacement
of load is obtained by a smaller displacement of effort.

Question 33

Draw a labelled sketch of a class III lever. Give one example of this kind of lever.

Answer

Sugar tongs is an example of class III lever.

Question 34

State the class of levers and the relative positions of load (L), effort (E) and fulcrum (F) in

(a) a bottle opener, and

Answer

(a) A bottle opener is an example of Class II lever, as the fulcrum F and the effort E are at the
two ends of the lever and the load is in between the fulcrum F and the effort E.

(b) Sugar tongs is an example of Class III lever, as the fulcrum F and the load L are at the two
ends of the lever and the effort E is in between the fulcrum F and the load L.

Question 37

What type of lever is formed by the human body while

(a) raising a load on the palm, and

(b) raising the weight of body on toes?

Answer

(a) When a human body raises a load on the palm then it is an example of a Class III lever.
The elbow joint acts as fulcrum F at one end, biceps exerts the effort in the middle and load L
on the palm is at the other end.

(b) When raising the weight of body on toes then it is a Class II lever. The fulcrum F is at
toes at one end, the load L (i.e. weight of the body) is in the middle and the effort E by
muscles is at the other end.

Question 38

Indicate the positions of load L, effort E and fulcrum F in the forearm shown below. Name
the class of lever.

Answer

The positions of load L, effort E and fulcrum F in the forearm are shown below:
It is a Class III lever.

Question 39

Give an example of each class of lever in a human body.

Answer

The examples of each class of lever in a human body are:

(i) The action of nodding of the head is a Class I lever. In this case the spine acts as the
fulcrum F, load L is at its front part while effort E is at its rear part.

(ii) The action of raising the weight of the body on toes is an example of Class II lever. In this
case, the fulcrum F is at toes at one end, the load L (i.e. the weight of the body) is in the
middle and effort E by muscles is at the other end.

(iii) The action of raising a load by forearm is an example of Class III lever. In this case the
elbow joint acts as fulcrum F at one end, biceps exerts the effort E in the middle and a load L
on the palm is at the other end.