mechanical advantage

American  

noun

Mechanics.

1. the ratio of output force to the input force applied to a mechanism.

---

mechanical advantage British  

noun

1. the ratio of the working force exerted by a mechanism to the applied effort

---

mechanical advantage Scientific  

/ mĭ-kăn′ĭ-kəl /

1. The ratio of the output force (acting on a load) produced by a machine to the applied effort (the input force).

2. See also efficiency

---

Etymology

Origin of mechanical advantage

First recorded in 1890–95