Increase Mechanical Advantage with a Long Handle and Screw Jack

Why do we use a long handle with a screw jack?

a) To make it easier to carry
b) To increase its stability
c) To increase the mechanical advantage
d) To decrease the mechanical advantage
Final answer:

Answer:

A long handle is used with a screw jack to increase the mechanical advantage.

Explanation:

The use of a long handle with a screw jack is meant to increase the mechanical advantage. A screw jack is a machine that follows the principles of mechanical advantage. Mechanical advantage refers to the ratio of the output force (the force exerted by the machine) to the input force (the force we apply). The longer the handle, the more distance we cover when we turn the handle, which results in needing to apply less force to lift heavy objects. This ensures we can lift heavy objects more efficiently.

Consider a screw jack used for lifting a car. The long handle allows us to apply a smaller amount of force over a longer distance to raise the car. The mechanical advantage is equivalent to the ratio of the forces exiting and entering the machine. This principle is similar to many other machines that manipulate force and distance in terms of mechanical advantage, such as a pry bar, pulley systems, and hydraulic jacks.

A screw jack is a simple machine that uses a screw mechanism to lift heavy objects. The longer the handle, the greater the distance over which the force is applied, resulting in a higher mechanical advantage.

For example, if we have a screw jack with a handle that is twice as long as another screw jack, we can apply half the force to achieve the same output force, effectively increasing the mechanical advantage.