Difference between Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA) and Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA)

Last updated on April 20th, 2023 at 04:43 am

In this post, we will find out the difference between Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA) and Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA).

The ratio of load to effort is known as mechanical advantage. ∴ Mechanical advantage (M.A) =Load (W)/Effort (E). If a large load is lifted with a small effort, then the mechanical advantage is greater than one.

Apart from MA, we have 2 more terms related to mechanical advantage. These are Ideal Mechanical Advantage (I.M.A.) and Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA).

Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA) versus Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA) | Difference between IMA and AMA

Ideal Mechanical Advantage (I.M.A.) – The ratio of the total load to the effort is called Ideal Mechanical Advantage (I.M.A.)
Therefore, I.M.A. =Total load/effort. [ the total load is the sum of the force to overcome the moveable parts, load due to friction, and the useful load.]
Actual Mechanical Advantage (A.M.A.) – The ratio of useful load to the effort is called Actual Mechanical Advantage (A.M.A.)
Therefore, A.M.A.=Useful load/effort

Ideal Mechanical Advantage (I.M.A.)

The effort applied to the machine is used to run the machine parts, overcome friction, and do useful work. Thus, the total load is the sum of the force to overcome the moveable parts, the load due to friction, and the useful load.

This ratio of the total load to the effort is called ideal mechanical advantage (I.M.A.)
Therefore, I.M.A. =Total load/effort

Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA)

The ratio of useful load to the effort is called actual mechanical advantage (A.M.A.)
Therefore, A.M.A.=Useful load/effort

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