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Mechanical Advantage |
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What is mechanical advantage? If you look at each word separately, you can figure it out easily. "Mechanical" means having to do with machines. "Advantage" means benefit or gain. So, mechanical advantage means the benefit gained by using machines.
The engine is not the only form of mechanical advantage you will experience on
your boat trip. You will use blocks (pulleys) and tackle (lines). On traditional
sailing vessels like Lady Maryland, Sigsbee, and Minnie V.,
the crew uses halyards that support the heavy sails and blocks and tackle to make
raising them easier. On cargo vessels like the Mildred Belle, the crew
uses a cargo boom with blocks and tackle to load and unload the cargo. You will
be amazed how light the load will feel!
Other simple forms of Mechanical Advantage used in our daily lives include the inclined plane and lever. An example of an inclined plane is a ramp and examples of a lever are a crowbar, oars and a seesaw. Even the human arm can be used as a lever!
