Ideal Mechanical Advantage

What can be done to increase the actual mechanical advantage of a ramp? One way is to reduce the friction of the ramp. In fact, if any machine were frictionless, its mechanical advantage would be the maximum possible value. The ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) of a machine is the mechanical advantage in the absence of friction. Because friction is always present, the actual mechanical advantage of a machine is always less than the ideal mechanical advantage. Because friction reduces mechanical advantage, engineers often design machines that use lowfriction materials and lubricants.

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