| Wheel and Axle
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Wheel and Axle
What is a Wheel and Axle?
A wheel and axle is a lever and a pulley combined. It is a wheel combined to an axle that multiplies the force applied to it or the distance travelled, depending on what end you turn. A few examples of wheel and axle are roller skates, doorknobs, car steering wheels and helicopters.
Multiplying the force
When force is applied on the wheel, the axel turns with the wheel and multplies this force. For example: if you turn the wheel once, you end up turning the axle about five times more than the wheel because the wheel is bigger than the axle. The amount of force multiplied is measured by R/r. (use the picture below for reference)
Multiplying the distance travelled
When you use the wheel and axle in reverse (spinning the axle instead of the wheel), the wheel will move a larger distance. If you turn the axle ten times, the wheel moves the same amount of times but it covers a larger distance. The faster you move the axle, the larger the distance the wheel can cover. This is commonly seen in helicopters and ceiling fans.
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