In physics, what does load divided by effort equal?

The expression load divided by effort corresponds to the mechanical advantage of a machine or a system, which is defined as the ratio of the load being moved to the effort applied to move that load. In the context of simple machines, the formula is represented as the ratio of the load force (the output force) to the effort force (the input force).

When the load and effort are analyzed in terms of their respective radii on a wheel or lever, this relationship can be expressed as the ratio of R (load radius) to r (effort radius). Thus, this alignment with the principles of physics highlights that load divided by effort equals R/r, illustrating how this ratio reflects the efficiency and amplification of force in mechanical systems.

This concept is foundational in understanding how machines multiply force and can be directly tied to the mechanical advantage provided by levers, pulleys, and other simple machines.