Free · Ideal mechanics
Ideal Simple-Machine Mechanical Advantage
Relate input and output forces for six ideal simple-machine geometries with retained two-way length and force controls.
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Calculator inputs
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How to use this calculator
- Enter the known values in the units shown. Results update as you type.
- Where results are editable, change one to solve backwards. Lock a value to hold it fixed.
- Use the worked example to check the method. Reset restores the starting fields.
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Formula and method
A lever with a 6-unit effort arm and 2-unit load arm has ideal mechanical advantage 3. An input force of 10 gives output force 30.
MA=Fout/Fin; ideal work conservation relates force gain to movement distance.
Worked example
Enter these known values and leave the other values blank.
- Method
- Lever
- Input force
- 10 N
- Effort arm
- 6 m
- Load arm
- 2 m
- Mechanical advantage
- 3
- Output force
- 30 N
Assumptions and limitations
- All machines are ideal and lossless, operated quasi-statically. Friction, deformation and weight of the machine are omitted; results do not rate working load or safety.
- Lever arms are perpendicular moment arms. Screw lead is axial advance per revolution, and the wheel circumference is the effort travel distance.
- The pulley mode specifically counts movable units providing two supporting strands each, so MA=2n. The number of arbitrary fixed redirecting pulleys does not determine advantage.
- The wedge length/thickness and ramp travel/rise give distance ratios. Ramp angle is acute; wheel radius must exceed axle radius in this retained interface.
Common questions
Does ideal advantage equal measured force gain?
Friction and deformation reduce efficiency, and a real rig must be rated independently. This calculator gives a lossless geometric model.
References
Replace explanatory external images with original accessible descriptions preserving each scenario, rope or machine arrangement and every variant condition.