Question

How do simple machines reduce work? (Two ways)

Answer 1

Simple machines reduce work by either decreasing the input force needed or increasing the distance over which the force is applied, thus conserving the total work done. Mechanical advantage describes the efficiency of this process in multiplying force.

Step-by-step explanation:

Simple machines reduce work in two main ways: they change the amount of force you must apply, or they change the distance over which you apply the force. Although the total amount of work remains the same due to conservation of energy, a simple machine can reduce the input force at the expense of increasing the distance over which the force is applied. This trade-off allows you to perform tasks that would otherwise require greater force. Mechanical advantage (MA), the ratio of output to input force, is a key concept that describes how effectively a machine multiplies the force applied to it.