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Compound machines (mechanical advantage)

Description

A compound machine is a machine formed from a set of simple machines connected in series with the output force of one providing the input force to the next. Mechanical advantage is a measure of the force amplification achieved by using a tool, mechanical device or machine system. The mechanical advantage of a compound machine is the ratio of the output force exerted by the last machine in the series divided by the input force applied to the first machine.

Related formulas

Variables

MAcomp Mechanical advantage (dimensionless)
Fout1Output force of the first machine (N)
Fout2Output force of the second machine (N)
Fin1Input force of the first machine (N)
Fin2Input force of the second machine (N)