What is the formula for calculating the Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA) for a lever?

The formula for calculating the Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA) of a lever is derived from the relationship between the load (the weight or resistance being moved) and the effort (the force applied to move the load). AMA quantifies the efficiency of a machine by comparing the output force to the input force.

When using a lever, the Actual Mechanical Advantage is calculated as the ratio of the load to the effort. This means that if a lever is used to lift a heavy object (the load), the amount of force you apply (the effort) is taken into consideration to determine how effectively the lever amplifies that applied force.

Therefore, AMA = Load/Effort indicates how much the lever multiplies the input effort to move the output load. If the load is significantly larger than the effort required, this ratio will be greater than one, reflecting a mechanical advantage. Understanding this relationship is crucial in analyzing the mechanical efficiency of levers and other simple machines.