Question

A claw hammer is used to pull a nail from a board. If the claw exerts a resistance of 2,500 N to the applied effort force of 125 N, what is the MA of the hammer?

A) 20
B) 125
C) 2,500
D) 250

Answer 1

The mechanical advantage (MA) of the claw hammer is calculated as the ratio of the resistance force to the effort force, yielding a mechanical advantage of 20.

Step-by-step explanation:

The claw hammer is used as a lever to pull a nail from a board, and the mechanical advantage (MA) is the ratio between the output force (resistance force) and the input force (effort force). In this case, the claw hammer exerts a resistance of 2,500 N when an effort force of 125 N is applied. To calculate the MA, we use the formula:

MA = Resistance Force / Effort Force

MA = 2500 N / 125 N = 20

Therefore, the mechanical advantage of the hammer is 20, which corresponds to option A.