Question

What is the difference between AMA (Actual Mechanical Advantage) and IMA (Ideal Mechanical Advantage)? Explain as if you were talking to a 5 yr old pls

Answer 1

Answer:

The AMA of a simple machine is the ratio of output to input forces. The IMA is the ratio of input distance to output distance.

Explanation:

As an example, using a block and tackle with six rope sections and a 600 lb load, the operator of an ideal system would be required to pull the rope six feet and exert 100 lbF of force to lift the load one foot. Both the ratios Fout / Fin and Vin / Vout show that the IMA is six. For the first ratio, 100 lbF of force input results in 600 lbF of force out. In an actual system, the force out would be less than 600 pounds due to friction in the pulleys. The second ratio also yields a MA of 6 in the ideal case but a smaller value in the practical scenario; it does not properly account for energy losses such as rope stretch. Subtracting those losses from the IMA or using the first ratio yields the AMA.