Question

A lever lifting a 20kg weight has an input arm that is 1.5 m long, and an output arm of 0.7 m. What is the ideal mechanical advantage of the lever?

a) 0.47
b) 1.07
c) 2.14
d) 0.93

Answer 1

The ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) of the lever is 2.14, calculated by dividing the length of the input arm (1.5 m) by the length of the output arm (0.7 m). Therefore, the correct option is C.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) of a lever is determined by the ratio of the length of the input arm to the length of the output arm. In this case, the input arm is 1.5 m and the output arm is 0.7 m. To find the IMA, we divide the length of the effort arm (input arm) by the length of the resistance arm (output arm), as shown in the following calculation:

IMA = ÷

IMA = 1.5 m / 0.7 m

IMA = 2.14

Therefore, the correct answer is c) 2.14, which means the lever provides a little over twice the input force, assuming ideal, frictionless conditions.