A pair of metal wheels with bearings fitted to cranked axle.

The wheel and axle is a simple machine. It consists of a wheel that turns an axle, or an axle that turns a wheel, or a dead axle which allows a wheel to rotate about its axis. It is also a lever that turns in circles around a point or fulcrum. The load on the axle is more easily moved because of mechanical advantage. The wheel and axle can be considered to be a lever in which the radius of the wheel is the effort arm and the radius of the axle represents the resistance arm. It also is a single forced machine. By changing the short distance of lifting, the force is less because the work always stays the same. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 1. ... In physics, a simple machine is any device that only requires the application of a single force to work. ... The force bearing on the axle has an eccentricity e with the point of contact to the rolling surface and exerts a moment about the contact point A wheel is a circular device capable of rotating on its axis, facilitating movement or transportation or performing labour in machines. ... An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. ... In physics and engineering, mechanical advantage (MA) is the factor by which a mechanism multiplies the force put into it. ...

One of the most common wheel and axles is the wheel of a car or truck. On most of these, the wheel and axle acts as a lever rotating around the fulcrum or the center point. On doing this the wheel rolls.

Screwdrivers, doorknobs, windmills, gears, and Chain Falls are all examples of the wheel and axle. A basic screwdriver (slotted tip shown) The screwdriver is a device specifically designed to insert and tighten, or to loosen and remove, screws. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... A Dutch tower windmill surrounded by tulips A windmill is an engine powered by the wind to produce energy, often contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. ... Spur gears found on a piece of farm equipment A gear wheel is a wheel with teeth around its circumference, the purpose of the teeth being to mesh with similar teeth on another mechanical device -- possibly another gear wheel -- so that force can be transmitted between the two devices in... Builders hoist, with small petrol engine A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or lift-wheel around which rope or chain wraps. ...

Calculating mechanical advantage

Ideal mechanical advantage

The ideal mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle is calculated with the following formula: In physics and engineering, mechanical advantage (MA) is the factor by which a mechanism multiplies the force put into it. ...

M.A.= Radius of wheel/Radius of axle

The effort distance is the radius, diameter, or circumference of whichever part of the simple machine, wheel or axle, is initally being rotated. The resistance distance is the same measurement of the opposite part of the wheel and axle. For example, if the axle is initially rotated and the wheel is rotated by the axle then the axle is the effort distance and the wheel would be the resistance distance.

Actual mechanical advantage

The actual mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle is calculated with the following formula: In physics and engineering, mechanical advantage (MA) is the factor by which a mechanism multiplies the force put into it. ...

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