The ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) of the wire cutter is calculated by dividing the distance from the pivot to the point of effort by the distance from the pivot to the resistance. The result is an IMA of 5, meaning the electrician's effort is multiplied by five by the tool.
When determining the ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) of a wire cutter, it is essential to examine the distances from the pivot point to the points of effort and resistance. In this case, the electrician applies effort 10 cm from the pivot, while the resistance (the wire) is 2 cm from the pivot. The wire cutter blades have dimensions which might seem to factor in, but they do not directly affect the calculation of the IMA. The formula for IMA is the distance from the pivot to the effort (de) divided by the distance from the pivot to the resistance (dr).
The overall IMA of the wire cutter is therefore de/dr, which is 10 cm / 2 cm, giving us an IMA of 5. This means that the tool multiplies the electrician's effort five times.
In conclusion, despite the complexity of the machine, the calculation of IMA remains straightforward and does not depend on the blade dimensions.