Efficiency of Machines: Which one loses more work to unusable forces?
Which machine loses more work to unusable forces such as heat and friction?
A. a pair of scissors that are 50 % efficient
B. a pair of scissors that are 95% efficient
C. a pair of scissors that are 20% efficient
Answer:
The pair of scissors that are 20% efficient loses the most work to unusable forces such as heat and friction.
Efficiency is an important factor when it comes to machines and their performance. In the case of the pair of scissors mentioned in the question, the efficiency of the machine determines how much work is lost to unusable forces like heat and friction.
Efficiency is defined as the ratio of useful work output to the total work input. The higher the efficiency percentage, the less work is lost to unusable forces. Therefore, in this scenario, the pair of scissors that is 20% efficient loses the most work to unusable forces compared to the pair of scissors that are 50% and 95% efficient.
Only 20% of the work input is converted into useful work in the pair of scissors that are 20% efficient. This means that the remaining 80% of the work input is lost as heat and friction. On the other hand, the pair of scissors that are 50% and 95% efficient lose less work to unusable forces, with more of the work input being converted into useful work.
Understanding the efficiency of machines is crucial for optimizing their performance and reducing wastage of energy. By improving the efficiency of machines, less work will be lost to unusable forces such as heat and friction, resulting in more effective and productive operations.