Wheel & Axle

Wheel & Axle Points : Wheel & Axle, Definition, Construction, Working, Mechanical Advantage, Definition This is a simple machine used to lift heavy loads such as pulling a bucket of water as a well. Construction It consists of a wheel of larger radius (R) and another with smaller radius (r) both are fixed on the same shaft and are called wheel and axle respectively. Working When effort ‘P’ is applied to the rim of wheel load raised. For one complete turn effort moves through a distance equal to the circumference of Wheel which is 2π R and the load ‘W’ raised through a distance equal to the circumference of axle which is 2π r. Mechanical Advantage Output = Input
W x 2π r = P x 2πR
W/P = 2π R/2π r
W/P = R/r
Mechanical advantage of the wheel and axle can be increased by increasing the radius of wheel and decreasing the radius of axle.