Question

The figure below shows a wheel barrow of mass 15 kg carrying a load of 30kgf with its centre of gravity at A. The points B and C are the centre of wheel and tip of the handle such that the horizontal distance AB= 20 cm and Ac = 40 cm.

Find : (a) the load arm, (b) the effort arm, (c) the mechanical advantage, and (d) the minimum effort required to keep the leg just off the ground.

Answer 1

(a) Load arm = 20 cm
(b)Effort arm = 60 cm
(c) Mechanical advantage $=\frac{Effortarm}{Loadarm}=\frac{60}{20}=3$
(d)Total load = 30 + 15 = 45 kgf

Effort = $\frac{Load}{MA}=\frac{45}{3}=15kgf$