Question

Barbera argues that simple machines like levers and pulleys reduce the amount of work needed

to get things done. Clarice argues that machines don’t decrease work - they decrease force.
Who is right and why?

Answer 1

Machines can reduce force but not work.

Work = force * distance

If a machine reduces the force input by a factor of two, say, then the distance traveled by the applied force must be doubled

One cannot get more work out of a machine than the work input to the machine.