3 a pulley A wheelchair ramp is an example of an inclined plane, which is a basic machine. Such ramps are used to provide level access to buildings or vehicles. They are usually made of wood or metal and are generally between 1.5 and 5 meters (5 and 15 feet) in length.
Wheelchairs are devices used to provide mobility to people who have difficulty walking due to illness, injury, or disability. There are many types of wheelchairs, including manual wheelchairs, power-driven wheelchairs, scooters, and exoskeletons. This article focuses on manual wheelchairs.
People usually use wheelchairs because they need help with activities of daily living or mobility. Some examples of activities that may require assistance include getting in and out of bed, sitting down and standing up, walking short distances, and climbing stairs. Some people may also need assistance using the bathroom or dressing themselves. In this case, a personal assistant can be hired to help them.
There are three main types of manual wheelchairs: standard, modular, and reconfigurable. The first two are fixed in size and cannot be adjusted by the user. The third type, the reconfigurable wheelchair, is able to fold up into a compact package for storage or transportation.
A staircase is an example of a basic inclined plane machine. Inclined planes are basic mechanisms that make it simpler for heavy objects to go uphill. Aside from the inclined plane and screw, other types of basic machines include the lever, wedge, pulley, wheel, and axle. In general, any mechanical device used to lift or lower an object using another element's weight to do work.
Staircases can be manual or electric. With a manual staircase oil or air pressure is used to power the steps down. This type of machine is useful for heavy loads because no electricity is needed at high heights. Electric stairways use motors instead of people to climb their stairs. These machines are common in buildings with many floors because they eliminate the need for any more than one person per staircase.
The electric motor in an electric staircase uses electricity to turn a metal disk called a rotor which in turn turns a threaded rod called a worm shaft. The worm shaft then turns a series of small rollers called steps. As the steps travel up the rod, they roll over a curved piece of metal called a rung which connects each step to the next higher step. At the top of the staircase the steps come to rest on a landing which is usually flat. From there, they are pushed forward again to start the process over once more.
The inclined plane, lever, wedge, wheel and axle, pulley, and screw are examples of basic machines. More complex machines include the clock, radio, tape recorder, television, microwave oven, and laser printer.
Clocks are very simple mechanical devices based on the lever and gear system. They measure time by counting the rotations of a central gear called a clock wheel or clock face. The clock wheel is attached to a shaft called the clock hand. As the wheel turns, the hand moves too, telling us what time it is. There are two main types of clocks: alarm clocks and wristwatches. Alarm clocks go off at a certain time, usually in the morning. Wristwatches can be used as alarms too but they always show the time on someone's wrist!
Radio telescopes, satellites, and airplanes are some examples of large machines. Smaller machines include microphones, gramophones, televisions, radios, and phonographs. Microwaves and X-rays are forms of radiation and so cannot be manipulated with tools or burned in a furnace like candles or coal.
The ability to manipulate objects with precision and control is what makes tools useful.
Here is a list of some commonplace instances of basic machines.
The wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, screw, wedge, and lever are all examples of simple machines that are commonly utilized. While basic machines can amplify or diminish the forces that can be applied to them, they have no effect on the overall amount of effort required to complete the activity. More complex machines such as turbines and motors are available for those who want to increase their ability to do work.
In science and technology, a machine is an apparatus consisting of various interrelated components that transform energy from the environment into other forms such as mechanical movement or electricity. Machines can be used to perform tasks beyond the physical strength of humans, such as lifting heavy objects or moving objects over long distances. Humans use machines to accomplish many of their activities, from driving a car to preparing food to keeping warm at night. Understanding how machines work helps scientists design better tools and devices.
In engineering, a machine is any device that changes one form of energy into another. Engineering machines can be divided into three general categories: thermal, hydraulic, and electric. Thermal machines use heat as a source of power, while hydraulic machines use pressure differences across valves or orifices to produce power. Electric machines use magnets or coils of wire to convert magnetic fields into mechanical force. Modern machines often combine elements from more than one category; for example, steam engines use heat to create pressure that drives pistons which in turn drive wheels.
Machines That Are Simple
A | B |
---|---|
inclined plane, | ladder |
screw, | door lock |
screw, | drill |
screw, | piano stool |
Scientists divide the six simple machines into two families: the lever family and the inclined plane family. The lever family includes the simple lever, the pulley, and the wheel and axle. The inclined plane family includes the simple inclined plane, the wedge, and the screw. Each member of this family produces a unidirectional force on a rigid body.
A simple lever uses one rigid body to push or pull another rigid body. The fulcrum is where the lever pivots back toward its original position. If you were to cut the lever off at the end next to the pulled body, it would still be able to lift the weight because the remaining part of the lever is in its normal position under its own weight. A simple lever can be used as a tool for work tasks that require lifting something heavy. For example, you could use a simple lever to lift some dirt so that you could plant seeds in your garden.
A pulley uses one rigid body to rotate another rigid body by pulling it with a rope or cable. You can think of a pulley as a series of levers all connected together. As each section of the rope goes over an upper pulley, it pulls the section below it until it reaches the lower pulley. At that point, the rope can go anywhere along its length. Because ropes can stretch over time, pulleys should always be installed so that they do not bind.