If a 100 lb load can be moved using slightly more than 50 lb of force, what is the mechanical advantage (M/A)?

To find the mechanical advantage (M/A), we can use the formula for mechanical advantage, which is the ratio of the load force to the effort force. In this case, the load being moved is 100 lb and the force applied to move that load is slightly more than 50 lb.

Mechanical advantage (M/A) is calculated as:

M/A = Load Force / Effort Force

Substituting in the values:

M/A = 100 lb / 50 lb

This simplifies to:

M/A = 2

Thus, the mechanical advantage indicates that the system allows you to lift a load that is twice as heavy as the force you apply. A mechanical advantage of 2:1 means that for every unit of effort, two units of load can be moved, demonstrating efficiency in the leverage or mechanism being used. Therefore, the answer of 2:1 accurately reflects that the load can be moved with significantly less force than its weight.