机械电气专业英语 教学课件 作者 刘瑛 王侃 张丛鹏 课外阅读资料.docVIP

Technical Reading 课外阅读资料 Unit 3 Simple machines Task Read the following text and try to find out the ‘mechanical advantage’ of each simple machine in figure 3-1 and explain how you calculate it. Note: you don’t have to give out the accurate answer, just evaluate it according to the proportion of the figure. Mechanical advantage According to engineering and science, work is the energy it takes to move an object. Associated with this definition is a mathematical concept which will be used here: Work = [Force Applied] x [Distance the Object Moved] What drives people to invent machines? It is people always want to find ways to make work easier. Machines allow us to do many things quicker or with less effort. They also enable us to do things that we otherwise would not be able to do. Just as bricks are an essential part of a brick house, there are fundamental parts of machines as well. There are six simple machines that can be found in many everyday items: Inclined Plane - An inclined plane is a ramp that reduces the force needed to move an object. At the same time, the object must travel a longer distance. Inclined planes were used by the Egyptians to build the pyramids. Screw - A screw is an inclined plane that is wrapped around a cylinder. Examples of screws include: fasteners that are used to attach wood or metal; lifting screws that are used to lift heavy objects and dig holes; and bolts that are used with nuts to keep things together. Wedge - The wedge is two inclined planes put together. It can be used to split things apart, such as an ax, or to hold things, such as a doorstop. Lever - A lever consists of a bar that rotates around a fulcrum. Levers lessen work by applying force over a longer distance. Examples of levers included a seesaw and the human arm. Wheel-and-Axel - A wheel-and-axel is a wheel attached to a rod or stick. It works similarly to a lever, in that, considering movement about the circumference, the distance the wheel-circle moves is much grea