Final answer:
The ratcheting cable cutters are used for wire pulling and cutting difficult-to-reach cables. To determine the IMA of wire cutters, divide the distance from the pivot to the handles (effort arm) by the distance from the pivot to the cutters' jaws (load arm). In the given scenario, with a 10 cm effort arm and a 2 cm load arm, the IMA is 5.The correct option is option d
Step-by-step explanation:
The ratcheting cable cutters are a basic tool for wire pulling that is useful for cutting wires and cables that are difficult to reach. Now, to address the specific question regarding the calculation of the ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) of a complex machine like wire cutters, we need to consider the distances from the pivot point. The lever arm for the force applied by the electrician is the distance from where the electrician grips the handles to the pivot, which is 10 cm. The distance from the pivot to the point of application of the force on the wire is 2 cm.
To calculate the overall IMA, which is the ratio of the output force to the input force, we use the distances from the pivot point. The formula for IMA in the case of a lever is the ratio of the distance from the fulcrum to the point where the force is applied (effort arm) to the distance from the fulcrum to the point where the force is exerted by the machine (load arm). Using this formula:
- Identify the effort arm - which is 10 cm.
- Identify the load arm - which is 2 cm.
- Calculate the IMA by dividing the effort arm by the load arm: IMA = Effort Arm / Load Arm = 10 cm / 2 cm = 5.
Therefore, the overall IMA of these wire cutters when used by the electrician in this scenario is 5. This means for every unit of force the electrician applies, the cutters multiply this force by a factor of 5.