Mechanical advantage

Mechanical advantage is the ratio of a machine’s output force to its input force. It measures force multiplication without accounting for friction or other energy losses.

Work (physics): Work is energy transferred when a force causes displacement. Ideal machines conserve work by exchanging a smaller input distance for a larger output force.
Force: Force is an interaction that can change an object's motion or shape. Input and output force are the two quantities compared in mechanical advantage.
Block and tackle: A block and tackle is a pulley system made from fixed and moving pulley blocks and a rope. Its supporting rope segments provide a direct way to estimate ideal mechanical advantage.
Velocity ratio: Velocity ratio is the ratio of a machine's output speed to its input speed. It describes motion rather than force, and ideally varies inversely with mechanical advantage.
Lever: A lever is a rigid bar that rotates around a fixed point called a fulcrum. Its arm lengths determine the ideal force ratio on either side of the fulcrum.
Torque: Torque is the rotational effect of a force about an axis or pivot. For rotating machines, torque rather than straight-line force captures the output effect.
Wheel and axle: A wheel and axle is a machine with a larger wheel fixed to a smaller axle. The radii of the wheel and axle determine its ideal force ratio.
Ideal mechanical advantage: Ideal mechanical advantage is the force ratio predicted for a machine without friction or deformation. It isolates geometry's force multiplication from losses that affect actual performance.
Pulley: A pulley is a grooved wheel that guides a rope or cable. In a block and tackle, the number of supporting rope segments sets ideal force multiplication.
Fulcrum: A fulcrum is the fixed pivot around which a lever rotates. Its position sets the lever arms used to determine force multiplication.

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