1. THE SCREW SIMPLE MACHINES IN TECHNICAL THEATRE Delbert Hall and Stew Ives

2. Introduction  The screw is a modified version of the inclined plane.  While this may be somewhat difficult to visualize, it may help to think of the threads of the screw as a type of circular ramp similar to that of a spiral staircase.

3. Calculating Pitch  The distance between two adjacent screw threads is called the pitch of a screw.  For example, if you place a ruler parallel to a screw and count 10 threads in a distance of one inch, then the pitch of the screw would be 1/10.

4. The Mechanical Advantage of the Screw  The screw is often turned by another simple machine such as a lever or a wheel and axle.  In this case, the total mechanical advantage is equal to the circumference of the simple machine to which the effort force is applied divided by the pitch of the screw.  This is sometimes referred to as the “Idea Mechanical Advantage” because is does not take into account any friction.

5. Converting Linear Motion  Turning the screw one complete revolution will move it into or out of an object a distance to the pitch of the screw, or.1” in this case. Therefore, a screw can be used to convert circular motion into linear motion  1 Revolution’s Distance = Pitch of Screw

6. Mechanical Advantage  The formula for determining the ideal mechanical advantage of a screw is: IMA= 2pL/P  Where L = length of the lever and P = 1 pitch

7. Comparison of Mechanical Advantage:

8. Achieving Mechanical Advantage  The ideal mechanical advantage is of little meaning since there is typically a lot of friction.*  However, the screw is an enormously useful in when pressure is needed to seal the lid onto a jar, a top on a bottle, hold a light bulb in its socket or hold two pieces of wood or metal together.  *(Note: Ball screws are used in some machines to greatly reduce friction.)

9. Other Uses  Because of the mechanical advantage of a screw, it is also useful for moving heavy loads. Such screw driven devices include garage door openers and jacks.

10. How else can we use the Screw in Theatre?  We can use the same concept behind an adjustable piano bench to lift a platform.

11. Raising a Platform with the Screw Applying force to the lever rotates the long Screw Using a longer lever increases our Mechanical Advantage This Expands the Scissor Jacks and makes the Platform Rise

12. References:  http://www.cosi.org/files/Flash/simpMach/sm1.html  http://www.uark.edu/depts/aeedhp/agscience/simpmach.htm  http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mechanics/incline.html