A wheel and axle has a mechanical advantage of 10. What is the diameter of the axle if the diameter of the wheel is 30 cm?

To determine the diameter of the axle when you know the diameter of the wheel and the mechanical advantage, you can use the formula for mechanical advantage in a wheel and axle system, which is given by:

Mechanical Advantage (MA) = Diameter of the Wheel / Diameter of the Axle

In this case, you've been informed that the mechanical advantage is 10 and the diameter of the wheel is 30 cm. Rearranging the formula to solve for the diameter of the axle gives:

Diameter of the Axle = Diameter of the Wheel / Mechanical Advantage

Substituting the values into this rearranged formula:

Diameter of the Axle = 30 cm / 10 = 3 cm

This calculation shows that the diameter of the axle must be 3 cm to maintain a mechanical advantage of 10 with a wheel of 30 cm in diameter. This relationship is fundamental in understanding how mechanical systems can amplify force, allowing for more effective operation in various applications.