Final answer:
The Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA) of the described wire cutter is calculated by dividing the effort distance (10 cm) by the load distance (2 cm), resulting in an IMA of 5.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand involves calculating the Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA) of a wire cutter, which is an application of principles from physics. The IMA is the ratio of the distance from the effort (the electrician's hand on the handles) to the fulcrum (pivot), and the distance from the load (wire) to the fulcrum. In this instance, the electrician grips the handles 10 cm from the pivot, and the wire is 2 cm from the pivot.
Therefore, we can calculate the IMA using the formula: IMA = Effort Distance / Load Distance. Plugging in the given values yields: IMA = 10 cm / 2 cm, resulting in an IMA of 5. This means that the wire cutter increases the electrician's input force by a factor of 5 before it is applied to the wire, ignoring any efficiency losses due to friction or other factors.