Mechanical Advantage
Formula for mechanical advantage.
If you compare the input force to the output force of a machine, you can find the advantage of using the machine. This number is known as mechanical advantage. Mechanical advantage is the ratio of a machine's output force to its input force. The mechanical advantage does not have to be greater than one. For example, a machine that increases distance has an output force less that the input force. This makes the mechanical advantage less than one. This means that the machine exerts the force over a longer distance.