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Wheel and Axle

The wheel and axle is a simple machine that uses a wheel rotating around an axle to amplify force. It was originally used to lift weights or buckets of water. By attaching a large gear to one end of an axle and a smaller gear to the other end, a small force applied to the large gear can overcome a larger force on the small gear, amplifying the input force. The mechanical advantage is equal to the ratio of the gear radii. For lifting weights, a large drum and small drum replace the gears, with rope wrapped around each.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
224 views

Wheel and Axle

The wheel and axle is a simple machine that uses a wheel rotating around an axle to amplify force. It was originally used to lift weights or buckets of water. By attaching a large gear to one end of an axle and a smaller gear to the other end, a small force applied to the large gear can overcome a larger force on the small gear, amplifying the input force. The mechanical advantage is equal to the ratio of the gear radii. For lifting weights, a large drum and small drum replace the gears, with rope wrapped around each.

Uploaded by

Jon Potter
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Wheel and axle, basic 

machine component for amplifying force. In its earliest form it was


probably used for raising weights or water buckets from wells. Its principle of operation is
demonstrated by the large and small gears attached to the same shaft, as shown at A in
the illustration. The tendency of a force F applied at the radius R on the large gear to turn the
shaft is sufficient to overcome the larger force W at the radius r on the small gear. The force
amplification, or mechanical advantage, is equal to the ratio of the two forces (W:F) and also
equal to the ratio of the radii of the two gears (R:r).

wo wheel and axle arrangements(A) With a large gear and a small gear attached to the same shaft, or axle, a force F applied at the radius R on the large gear is sufficient to overcome the larger
force W at the radius r on the small gear, turning the axle. (B) In a drum and rope arrangement capable of raising weights, a large drum of radius R can be used to turn a small drum. An increase
in mechanical advantage can be obtained by using the large drum to turn a small drum with two radii as well as a pulley block. When a force F is applied to the rope wrapped around the large
drum, the rope wrapped around the small two-radius drum winds off of d (radius r1) and onto D (radius r2). The force W on the radius of the pulley block P is easily overcome, and the attached
weight is lifted.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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simple machine: The wheel and axle

A wheel and axle is made up of a circular frame (the wheel) that revolves on a shaft or rod (the axle). In its earliest form it was probably...

For raising weights the wheel and axle has large- and small-diameter drums with ropes wrapped around them in place of the gears.
The weight being lifted is attached to the rope on the small drum, and the operator pulls the rope on the large drum. In this
arrangement the mechanical advantage is the radius of the large drum divided by the radius of the small drum. An increase in the
mechanical advantage can be obtained by using a small drum with two diameters, r1 and r2, and a pulley block, P, as shown in sketch
B in the illustration. When lifting a weight, the rope winds on the drum D and off the drum d.

A measure of the force amplification available with the system is the velocity ratio, or the ratio of the velocity (VF) with which the
operator pulls the rope at F to the velocity at which the weight W is raised (VW). This ratio is equal to twice the radius of the large
drum divided by the difference in the radii of drums D and d. Expressed mathematically, the equation is VF/VW = 2R/(r2 - r1). The
actual mechanical advantage W/F is less than this velocity ratio, depending on friction. A very large mechanical advantage may be
obtained with this arrangement by making the pulleys D and d of nearly equal radius. See also block and tackle.
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:

simple machine: The wheel and axle

A wheel and axle is made up of a circular frame (the wheel) that revolves on a shaft or rod (the axle). In its earliest form it was probably used for raising weights or
water buckets from wells.…

mechanical advantage

Mechanical advantage, force-amplifying effectiveness of a simple machine, such as a lever, an inclined plane, a wedge,
a wheel and axle, a pulley system, or a jackscrew. The theoretical mechanical advantage of a system is the ratio of the force
that performs the useful work to the force applied, assuming there is no friction in the system. In practice, the actual
mechanical advantage will be less than the theoretical value by an amount determined by the amount of friction.

 Axle, Pin or shaft on or with which wheels revolve; with fixed wheels, one of the basic simple machines for
amplifying force. Combined with the wheel, in its earliest form it was probably used for raising weights or water buckets
from wells. Its principle of operation can be illustrated in the attachment of large and small gears to the same shaft; the
tendency of a force applied at the radius on the large gear to turn the shaft is sufficient to overcome a larger force at the
radius on the small gear. The mechanical advantage is equal to the ratio of the two forces and also equal to the ratio of the
radii of the two gears.

Study on simple wheel and axle.

https://www.britannica.com/technology/wheel-and-axle
W=Fr×2πr/θ=FR×2πR/θ

https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Wheel_and_axle

The wheel and axle is a type of simple machine used to make tasks easier in terms of manipulating force by applying the concept of mechanical advantage. The
wheel and axle consists of a round disk, known as a wheel, with a rod through the centre of it, known as the axle. This system uses angular momentum
and torque to do work on objects, typically against the force of gravity. The wheel and axle simple machine is closely related to gears.

Like all other simple machines the wheel and axle system changes the force by changing the distance over which the force must be applied; if the input force is
reduced to 1515 the output force, then the force must be applied over five times the distance. The work done is always force times distance, and this must always
be the same because of the conservation of energy.
The wheel and axle both rotate at the same rate. What this means is that both the axle and the wheel will complete one full rotation in the same amount of time (as
opposed to how gears work). Due to the size difference in the radius of the wheel and axle, this means that the distance the two parts rotate through in the same
amount of time is different. This is due to the difference in the circumferences of the wheel itself and the axle that supports it. This supplies the conditions for
mechanical advantage.

Figure 1: Example of a simple machine system using a wheel and axle.[1]

The wheel and axle is a type of simple machine used to make

Mechanical advantage
Figure 2: Mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle system.[2]

The mechanical advantage for this system is ideally:[2]

where is the radius of the wheel, and is the radius of the axle, shown in Figure 2.

A wheel and axle system need a force in order to lift the load, but that force can be less than the weight of the object. Although the force a person needs to apply
may not be very large compared to the force it does on the object, the distance they need to rotate the wheel is much larger than the distance the axle rotates
through.

Ideally there are no losses during the energy transfer, but in reality there is no such thing as a system with 100% efficiency. Energy will be lost due to non-
conservative forces such as friction, but wheel and axle systems often have very high efficiencies.

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/wheel-and-axle-examples-used-in-everyday-life.html

What Is a Wheel and Axle?


Simple machines, like a wheel and axle, are used to help move items or lift objects and people. There are two main parts:

1. Wheel: Round disc, or the larger, rounded part on the outside


2. Axle: Rounded cylinder, or smaller rounded rod on the inside

The axle runs through the center of the wheel and can be attached to another object. The use of a wheel and axle is a great demonstration of cause and effect.
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/wheel-and-axle-examples-used-in-everyday-life.html

Common Wheel and Axle Examples


Wheel and axle uses include lifting heavy objects, moving people quickly, and moving parts of a
complex machine. There are two basic types of wheel and axle simple machines.

1. A machine where the force is applied to the axle


2. A machine where the force is applied to the wheel

Examples of Force Applied to Axle

Applying a large force to the axle makes the wheel go faster. Everyday examples of this type of
wheel and axle include:

 Bicycle
 Car tires
 Ferris wheel
 Electric fan
 Analog clock
 Winch

In all these examples, you can see how the motion is initiated from the axle, resulting in a larger
motion by the wheel.

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Examples of Force Applied to Wheel

When you apply a small force to the wheel, it travels a longer distance and creates a stronger
force on the axle. Everyday examples of this type of wheel and axle include:

 Screwdriver
 Drill
 Windmill
 Water wheel
 Doorknob
 Pizza cutter
 Skateboard

In contrast to the examples where the force is applied to the axle, these examples illustrate when
the motion is initiated from the wheel.

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