Question

Richard wrote a list of the advantages of using any one of the six simple machines. His list is below. Which statement about simple machines is not correct?

A.
Some simple machines produce an output force greater than the input force.
B.
Some simple machines produce an output force in a different direction than the input force.
C.
Some simple machines have a work output greater than the work input.
D.
Some simple machines increase the distance through which a force is applied.

Answer 1

An incorrect statement about simple machines would assert that they reduce the work required. In fact, simple machines provide a mechanical advantage by allowing a smaller force over a greater distance, but do not change the total work done.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement about simple machines that is not correct would be any statement claiming that they reduce the amount of work required to perform a task. Simple machines do not decrease the total work; instead, they make it easier by allowing you to apply a smaller force over a greater distance. The essence of simple machines is to provide a mechanical advantage (MA), which is the ratio of the output force to the input force.

Examples of simple machines include the lever, gear, pulley, wedge, and screw. When a force is applied through a longer distance via a simple machine, the required input force is reduced, but the work - the product of force and distance - remains constant, aligning with the conservation of energy principle. This adjustment of force and distance is what makes simple machines helpful in various tasks, despite the fact that they can't change the amount of work done.