joln and Sipho sit on the see-saw. John is the load and Sipho is the 1 joint. What do you think happens? Think about their weights. Will this lever be MA \( >1, \mathrm{MA}=1 \) or \( \mathrm{MA}<1 \) ? john stays on the see-saw and remains the load. Sipho gets off and peter gets on. Now the effort is heavier than the load. Meaning, more force has to be applied to move the load. Will this lever be \( \mathrm{MA}>1, \mathrm{MA}=1 \) or \( \mathrm{MA}<1 \) ? Finally, Peter gets off the see-saw while John is still on and he remains the load. Sureshin gets on and becomes the effort. The of the effort is smaller than the load, but Sureshin gives

Let's analyze each scenario involving John, Sipho, Peter, and Sureshin on the see-saw (acting as a lever). We'll determine the **Mechanical Advantage (MA)** in each case based on the weights (forces) involved. **Mechanical Advantage (MA)** in a lever system is defined as the ratio of the **Load Force** (weight to be moved) to the **Effort Force** (force applied to move the load): \[ \text{MA} = \frac{\text{Load Force}}{\text{Effort Force}} \] - **MA > 1**: The lever provides a mechanical advantage, meaning the effort force is less than the load force. - **MA = 1**: The lever is balanced; effort and load forces are equal. - **MA < 1**: The lever has a mechanical disadvantage, meaning the effort force is greater than the load force. Let's examine each scenario: --- ### **1. John as the Load and Sipho as the Joint (Fulcrum)** - **Scenario Description:** - **Load:** John remains on the see-saw. - **Fulcrum:** Sipho acts as the pivot point. - **Effort:** Not explicitly mentioned, but assuming another person (let's say Effortator) is applying force on the opposite side to balance or move the load. - **Analysis:** - Since the fulcrum is managed by Sipho and John is on one side, the position of the effort relative to the fulcrum will determine the MA. - **If Effortator applies a force equal to John's weight at an equal distance from the fulcrum:** - **MA = 1** (Balanced see-saw). - **If Effortator applies a force greater or lesser than John's weight or at different distances:** - **MA > 1 or MA < 1** accordingly. - **Conclusion:** - **Without specific weights and distances,** it's likely that if they're simply sitting symmetrically, **MA ≈ 1**. --- ### **2. John as the Load and Peter as the Effort (Sipho Off the See-Saw)** - **Scenario Description:** - **Load:** John remains on the see-saw. - **Effort:** Peter joins, and his weight is **heavier than John's**. - **Fulcrum:** Remains unchanged (assuming central position). - **Analysis:** - **Effort Force > Load Force** (Peter is heavier than John). - **MA = Load / Effort < 1** because the effort needed is greater to lift or balance the load. - **Implications:** - **Mechanical Disadvantage (MA < 1):** More effort is required to move or balance John's weight due to Peter's heavier effort force. - **Conclusion:** - **MA < 1** --- ### **3. John as the Load and Sureshin as the Effort (Peter Off the See-Saw)** - **Scenario Description:** - **Load:** John remains on the see-saw. - **Effort:** Sureshin joins, and his weight is **less than John's**. - **Fulcrum:** Remains unchanged. - **Analysis:** - **Effort Force < Load Force** (Sureshin is lighter than John). - **MA = Load / Effort > 1** because less effort is needed to lift a heavier load. - **Implications:** - **Mechanical Advantage (MA > 1):** Sureshin can lift or balance John's weight more easily, possibly by applying less force over a longer distance or through leveraging arms. - **Conclusion:** - **MA > 1** --- ### **Summary Table** | **Scenario** | **Load** | **Effort** | **MA** | |---------------------------------------------|----------|------------|----------| | John as Load, Effort Equal (Balanced) | John | Equal to John | **= 1** | | John as Load, Peter (Heavier Effort) | John | Peter (heavier) | **< 1** | | John as Load, Sureshin (Lighter Effort) | John | Sureshin (lighter) | **> 1** | --- ### **Key Takeaways** 1. **Balanced Lever (MA = 1):** When effort and load forces are equal and applied at equal distances from the fulcrum, the lever remains balanced. 2. **Mechanical Disadvantage (MA < 1):** When the effort force is greater than the load force, more effort is needed to move the load. 3. **Mechanical Advantage (MA > 1):** When the effort force is less than the load force, less effort is required to move a heavier load, which is advantageous for lifting or balancing heavy objects with minimal effort. Understanding the **Mechanical Advantage** helps in designing systems that optimize force usage, making tasks easier based on the lever's configuration.