Mechanical advantage: the car jack
Engineers (Advanced), mission M1 Force, Mass & Motion, lesson 2 of 6.
Hook
A person can lift a car with a jack. Where does the extra force come from?
Fair test
Measure input force (spring scale on the handle) vs load lifted. Calculate the mechanical advantage.
Bonus challenge
Is there a catch? Measure how far your hand moves versus how far the load rises.
The build
- 🛠️ Ratchet Car Jack: Crank the handle — click, click, click — and lift a toy car. Let go and it stays up! (level 3 of 5, about 35 minutes, 15 steps)