Question

A screwdriver with a very thick handle requires less force to operate than one with a very skinny handle.

Explain why this is so.

Answer 1

A screwdriver with a thick handle requires less force to operate than one with a skinny handle due to the concept of mechanical advantage. The thicker handle increases the lever arm length, resulting in a larger torque on the screw when the same force is applied.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason a screwdriver with a very thick handle requires less force to operate than one with a very skinny handle is due to the concept of mechanical advantage (MA). Mechanical advantage is a measure of how much a simple machine multiplies the force applied to it. In the case of the screwdriver, the handle acts as a lever, and the longer the lever (or thicker handle), the greater the mechanical advantage.

A thicker handle allows you to exert a greater force with less effort because it increases the lever arm length. This means that a given amount of force applied to the handle will create a larger torque on the screw, making it easier to turn.

Imagine you have two screwdrivers, one with a thick handle and one with a skinny handle. When you apply the same force to both screwdrivers, the thicker handle will generate a larger torque on the screw, allowing you to turn the screw with less effort compared to the skinny handle.

Answer 2

Torque provides the relation between applies force and 'r'. 'r' is distance between point at which torque is measured to the point at which force applied. It is given as:

`\tau=\hat{r}* \hat{F}\\\\\tau=rFsin\,\theta`

It can be seen that if τ is kept constant then there is inverse relation between r and F, larger the r smaller will be force required to operate.