Chapter 10, Problem 87A

To determine

To explain:The procedure to increase the mechanical advantage of a wedge.

Answer to Problem 87A

The mechanical advantage of a wedge can be increased by increasing the efficiency of the wedge, without changing its ideal mechanical advantage.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The efficiency of a machine is the ratio of the mechanical advantage of the machine to the ideal mechanical advantage of the machine.

The expression of the efficiency of the machine is,

$\text{Efficiency}=\left(\frac{MA}{IMA}\right)$

Here, $IMA$ is the ideal mechanical advantage and $MA$ is the mechanical advantage of the machine.

Consider the mechanical advantage of the wedge is denoted by $MA$ .

Consider the ideal mechanical advantage of the wedge is denoted by $IMA$ .

The efficiency of the wedge is,

  $\begin{array}{l}\text{Efficiency}=\left(\frac{MA}{IMA}\right)\\ MA=\left(\text{Efficiency}\right)\left(IMA\right)\end{array}$

For a wedge with unchanged ideal mechanical advantage, the mechanical advantage can be increased by increasing the efficiency of the wedge.The efficiency of the wedge can be increased by reducing the friction losses occurring in the wedge.Hence, the mechanical advantage of a wedge can be increased by increasing the efficiency of the wedge, without changing its ideal mechanical advantage.

Conclusion:

Thus, the mechanical advantage of a wedge can be increased by increasing the efficiency of the wedge, without changing its ideal mechanical advantage.