Question

Refer to the following photo to answer this Question.



How does the setup shown in the picture affect the mechanical advantage required to lift the clay block?
A ruler C is placed on a fulcrum labeled B at the edge of a table. One end of the ruler is balancing a cube labeled D. The other end of the ruler hanging over the edge of the table is holding a spring scale labeled A.


Question options:

The setup decreases the amount of force required to lift the block and, therefore, increases your mechanical advantage.

The setup does not change the amount of force required to lift the block.

The setup increases the amount of force required to lift the block and, therefore, decreases your mechanical advantage.

Answer 1

Here as we can see that weight on the right side of ruler given as D is applying torque about the fulcrum this is counter balanced by weight on left side given as A

now by torque balance we can say

$W_aL_a = W_bL_b$

now we will have

$W_a = W_b\times \frac{L_b}{L_a}$

now here as per given setup we can see that

$L_b > L_a$

so here we will have

$W_a > W_b$

so the weight required to hold D will be more and correct answer will be

The setup increases the amount of force required to lift the block and, therefore, decreases your mechanical advantage.

Answer 2

Answer:

The setup increases the amount of force required to lift the block and, therefore, decreases your mechanical advantage.

Explanation: Just a summed up answer for the guy above me