Mechanical advantage

Definition

The mechanical advantage of a simple machine is defined in the following equivalent ways:

1. It is the quotient of the load (the force out) by the effort (the force in).
2. It is the quotient of the distance moved by the effort (the effort distance) by the distance moved by the load (sometimes called the resistance distance).

Examples of simple machines that have a mechanical advantage other than $1$ are levers, movable pulley systems, screw, and gears.