Question

What is the mechanical advantage of a hammer used for driving a nail?

Answer 1

1. Mechanical advantage, $MA=\frac{effortarm}{loadarm}$
2. In the case of a hammer driving a nail, the effort arm is less than the load arm and hence the mechanical advantage is less than 1.
3. Load arm is the distance of the load from the fulcrum and the effort arm is the distance of effort from the fulcrum.
4. The below diagram of a hammer depicts that the effort arm is less than the load arm and consequently mechanical advantage is less than 1.

Hence, the mechanical advantage of a hammer used for driving a nail is less than 1.