How do you calculate the efficiency of a simple machine?

1 Answer
Trevor Ryan.
Nov 10, 2015

Efficiency is defined as the ratio of the power output to the power input.
eta = (P_(out))/(P_( i n )).

Since power is the rate of doing work and the 2 powers occur for the same time while the machine operates, we may also then write efficiency as the ratio of the energy output to the energy input.
eta = (W_(out))/(W_(i n))

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