Science Olympiad Machines Practice Test 2026 – Complete Prep Resource

To determine the efficiency of a lever, the formula to use is:

Efficiency (%) = (AMA / IMA) x 100%

In this scenario, the actual mechanical advantage (AMA) is given as 3.5, and the ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) is provided as 4.0. Applying these values to the formula results in:

Efficiency = (3.5 / 4.0) x 100%

Efficiency = 0.875 x 100%

Efficiency = 87.5%

This calculation shows that the lever operates at 87.5% efficiency, which indicates how well it converts input effort into output work. The high efficiency suggests that while there is some energy loss (likely due to friction or deformation), the lever still performs close to its ideal conditions. This makes the answer of 87.5% the correct one among the choices provided, illustrating a solid understanding of mechanical advantage and efficiency in simple machines.