Connected gears of different numbers of teeth are used together to change the rotational speed and torque of the input force. If the smaller gear drives the larger gear, the speed of rotation will be reduced and the torque will increase. If the larger gear drives the smaller gear, the speed of rotation will increase and the torque will be reduced.

The mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle is the input radius divided by the output radius:

MA = \( \frac{r_i}{r_o} \)

In this case, the input radius (where the effort force is being applied) is 8 and the output radius (where the resistance is being applied) is 7 for a mechanical advantage of \( \frac{8}{7} \) = 1.14

MA = \( \frac{load}{effort} \) so effort = \( \frac{load}{MA} \) = \( \frac{70 lbs.}{1.14} \) = 61.4 lbs.

The more mass a substance has the more force is required to move it or to change its direction. This resistance to changes in direction is known as inertia.

The mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle lies in the difference in radius between the inner (axle) wheel and the outer wheel. But, this mechanical advantage is only realized when the input effort and load are applied to different wheels. Applying both input effort and load to the same wheel results in a mechanical advantage of 1.

The mechanical advantage (MA) of a block and tackle pulley is equal to the number of times the effort force changes direction. An easy way to count how many times the effort force changes direction is to count the number of ropes that support the resistance which, in this problem, is 4. With a MA of 4, a 170 lbs. effort force could lift 170 lbs. x 4 = 680 lbs. resistance.