Mechanical Advantage

Mechanical Advantage ($MA$) is the amplification of force by a mechanical device and expressed as the ratio of output force ($F_o$) over input force ($F_i$), or $MA=F_o/F_i$. A simple example of mechanical advantage is Archimedes's famous lever quote: "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world."

A mechanical advantage less than one will increase the output speed, whereas a mechanical advantage greater than one will increase the force.

Resources to Learn About Mechanical Advantage

• Khan Academy: Introduction to Mechanical Advantage

Deeper Knowledge on Mechanical Advantage

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Broader Topics Related to Mechanical Advantage

Physics

The fundamental nature and properties of matter, energy, and motion