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Applying the Laws of Thermodynamics

Mechanical Advantage doesn’t change work.

Diagram of lever The important thing to remember when applying the laws of thermodynamics to machines such as ramps, levers, and wedges is that the mechanical advantage of using the machine does not change the amount of work that is being done.

Just as the amount of energy never increases or decreases, but is merely changed in form, the amount of work done in a mechanical machine remains the same. It creates a mechanical advantage by decreasing the amount of force needed by you to do the work, but the amount of work does not change whether or not a machine is used.

Mechanical Advantage

Does the amount of work change when you use a machine?

No