Systems in Action Terms: Flashcard Set

System

A group of parts that work together to achieve a certain goal.

Physical System

A group of physical parts that work together to perform a specific function.

Social System

A group of humans or other organisms joining together to perform tasks or form relationships.

Force

Any push or pull.

Input

The force, energy or raw materials put into a system.

Output

The task or purpose that a system performs.

Side Effects

The unintended or undesired outputs of a system.

Systems Thinking

Taking into account the inputs, outputs or side effects of a system.

Simple machine

a device that requires a single force to work.

Fulcrum

the pivot of a lever.

Load arm

the part of a lever that extends to the load.

Effort arm

The part of a lever that extends to where the pressure is applied from.

Input force

the effort force applied to a lever.

Output force

The force the lever applies to the load.

Load force

The force the input force has to overcome to cause any movement.

Inclined plane

For the moving of heavy objects between vertical planes.

Wedge

Used to stop the movement of a machine.

The screw

Used to drill through materials or to move liquid materials.

The lever

Used to move a load (usually heavy) with ease.

Wheel and axle

Used to transfer small force into big actions, change types of force.

The pulley

Used to lift heavy objects with ease.

Magnitude

the quantity of force.

Newton

the unit used to measure forces (N).

Friction

the force that resists objects rubbing or sliding past one another.

Static friction

The force that holds a motionless object where it is.

Sliding friction

The force that acts like a brake when one surface slides over another.

Lubricant

a substance that reduces friction.

Mechanical advantage (MA)

the ratio of output force to input force of a given machine.

Ideal Mechanical advantage

the MA if all output force was converted to input force, not possible in real-world applications.

Actual Mechanical advantage

The MA in real applications, equal to the ideal MA minus the force lost to friction, slippage, etc.