Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Simple Machines and Mechanical Advantage

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

If the length of an inclined plane is 40 and the height is 10, then what is the mechanical advantage?

a)

4

b)

2

c)

10

d)

0.25

2.

A ______ is a device with few or no moving parts that changes the direction and/or magnitude of force.

a)

simple machine

b)

complex circuit

c)

chemical compound

d)

digital sensor

3.

An ______ is a simple machine that uses a slope to raise and lower heavy objects.

a)

inclined plane

b)

pulley

c)

lever

d)

wheel and axle

4.

______ is a change in the magnitude of force required to do work. Simple machines use MA to help minimize the force needed to complete movement.

a)

mechanical advantage (MA)

b)

potential energy

c)

kinetic energy

d)

thermal expansion

5.

______ is the theoretical mechanical advantage based on the assumption that no energy is lost to friction, wear, or other resistance.

a)

ideal mechanical advantage (IMA)

b)

actual mechanical advantage (AMA)

c)

efficiency ratio

d)

input force advantage

6.

______ is the mechanical advantage calculated from measured input and output forces.

a)

actual mechanical advantage (AMA)

b)

ideal mechanical advantage (IMA)

c)

efficiency

d)

power

7.

______ is the force that resists the movement of an object.

a)

friction

b)

gravity

c)

magnetism

d)

electricity

8.

A ______ is a circular object that revolves on an axle.

a)

wheel

b)

box

c)

stick

d)

rope

9.

An ______ is a rod or spindle (either fixed or rotating) passing through the center of a wheel.

a)

axle

b)

gear

c)

lever

d)

pulley

10.

A ______ is a simple machine that uses a rigid bar resting on a pivot point or fulcrum to transmit motion and create mechanical advantage (MA).

a)

lever

b)

pulley

c)

wheel

d)

inclined plane

11.

The ______ is the point on which a lever pivots.

a)

fulcrum

b)

axle

c)

spring

d)

gear

12.

______ is the force used to move an object or where you are interacting with the lever.

a)

effort force

b)

load force

c)

gravitational force

d)

frictional force

13.

______ is the force that opposes the effort force, or where the load is being applied to the lever.

a)

resistance force

b)

applied force

c)

gravitational force

d)

frictional force

14.

A ______ is a simple machine that uses threads wrapped around a cylinder or shaft to create mechanical advantage (MA).

a)

screw

b)

lever

c)

pulley

d)

wedge

15.

A ______ is a screw that rotates in place and is used to translate rotational motion into linear motion; also known as a power screw.

a)

lead screw

b)

set screw

c)

wood screw

d)

cap screw

16.

What is a gear train?

a)

A single gear used to transfer force

b)

A series of gears connected to transfer force and manipulate mechanical advantage

c)

A machine that does not use gears

d)

A type of engine

17.

Which gear in a gear train is the powered or input gear? Select the correct answer.

a)

Driving gear

b)

Idler gear

c)

Driven gear

d)

Output gear

18.

Fill in the blank: The idler gear is a gear inserted between two other gears to change the direction of rotation or extend the ______ between gears.

a)

distance

b)

speed

c)

torque

d)

friction

19.

Which gear is often connected to mechanical output motion and is turned by the driving gear?

a)

Driving gear

b)

Idler gear

c)

Driven gear

d)

Input gear

20.

What is the formula for gear ratio in a gear train?

a)

Gear ratio = T_driving / T_driven

b)

Gear ratio = T_driven / T_driving

c)

Gear ratio = T_driven x T_driving

d)

Gear ratio = T_driving - T_driven

21.

What does rotational speed measure?

a)

The force that causes rotation

b)

The rate at which a gear or object rotates around an axis, often measured in revolutions per minute (RPM)

c)

The number of teeth on a gear

d)

The distance between gears

22.

What is torque?

a)

The rate at which a gear rotates

b)

A measure of twisting force that causes rotation, often measured in Newton-meters

c)

The number of gears in a gear train

d)

The speed of the driven gear

23.

Identify the driving gear, idler gear, and driven gear in the diagram.

a)

The leftmost gear is the driving gear, the middle gear is the idler gear, and the rightmost large gear is the driven gear.

b)

The rightmost large gear is the driving gear, the middle gear is the idler gear, and the leftmost gear is the driven gear.

c)

The middle gear is the driving gear, the leftmost gear is the idler gear, and the rightmost large gear is the driven gear.

d)

The leftmost gear is the idler gear, the rightmost large gear is the driving gear, and the middle gear is the driven gear.