How is mechanical advantage calculated for a wheel and axle?

The mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle system is calculated by comparing the radii of the axle and the handle. In this context, the radius of the axle is significant because it represents the point where effort is being applied to overcome load. The radius of the handle, on the other hand, is where the effort force is applied.

By taking the ratio of the radius of the axle to the radius of the handle, you obtain the mechanical advantage, which indicates how much easier it is to do work using the wheel and axle compared to doing it directly. This relationship shows how the design of the wheel and axle allows a smaller input force applied at the larger radius (the handle) to effectively move a larger load at the smaller radius (the axle).

This ratio highlights the principle of leveraging force through mechanical advantage, making it a practical tool in various mechanical systems where labor is reduced through efficient design.