Wheels and Axles
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A wheel and axle is a simple machine made of two circular or cylindrical objects fastened together that rotate around a common axis. The object with the larger radius is called the wheel and the object with the smaller radius is called the axle. To understand how a wheel and axle works, let's use the example of a screwdriver. When you use a screwdriver, you apply an input force to turn the handle , or wheel. Because the wheel is larger than the shaft, or axle, the axle rotates and exerts a large output force. The wheel and axle increases your force, but you must exert your force over a long distance. When an input force is applied to the axle, a wheel and axle multiplies distance. You can find the ideal mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle by dividing the radius of the wheel by the radius of the axle. This equation is shown below.