Transcript The Wheel and Axle - Designs by Patrick Immel

The Wheel and Axle
Mark-o
&
Eric-o
What makes it a wheel
and axle system?
• The wheel must be fixed to the axle.
• One rotation of the wheel equals one
rotation of the axle.
• If the wheel and axle are not fixed
then you basically have a pulley
system.
Everyday examples of a
wheel and axle system
•
•
•
•
A doorknob
Sprocket and shaft
Fishing reel
Carousel
What’s the point?
• Provides a simple way
to obtain Mechanical
Advantage.
• The example to the
right shows a simple
system with an MA of
5:1.
• The radius of the wheel
in this case is 5x the
radius of the axle.
Where’s the sacrifice?
• As with any system
using MA, you give
something to gain
something.
• Here you are increasing
the distance that you
must turn to achieve
one rotation of the
axle, but you are
increasing torque at
the axle by the same
ratio, thus making it
“easier” to raise the
bucket.
Find the wheel and axles
Drum Diameter Demo (DDD)
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.