Good morning to my teachers and friends My name is Himanshu and I am

delighted to be here today to give a presentation on Levers. So what is a lever?

A lever is a rigid, straight bar which is capable of turning about fixed axis.

The axis about which the lever turns, passes through a point of lever which is called
fulcrum.

Principle of a lever

This figure shows a lever AB with fulcrum at F. An effort E is applied at a point A of the
lever, overcomes a Load L at the point B.

A lever works on the principle of moments according to which in the equilibrium

position of lever, moment of load about fulcrum must be equal to moment of effort
about fulcrum, that is

Clockwise moment of load about fulcrum = Anticlockwise moment of effort about

fulcrum

Which further means,

Load × Load arm = Effort × Effort arm

Mechanical Advantage

It is ratio of length of effort arm to length of load arm. i.e

MA= Effort(E)/ Load(L)

 If E=L, MA=1
 If E>L, MA>1
 If E<L, MA<1

Kinds of Levers

Depending upon the relative positions of the effort, load and fulcrum there are
following 3 types of lever

 Class 1
 Class 2
 Class 3
Class 1– In this type of lever Fulcrum is in between effort and load as you can see in the
figure.

Examples of class 1 levers are : Seesaw, Crowbar and Scissors.

Also, the mechanical advantage for class 1 levers can have any value, either greater than
1, equal to 1 or less than 1

Class 2– In this type of lever Fulcrum and Effort are two ends of the bar

Examples of class 2 levers are : Wheel Barrow, Bottle Opener and Boat Oar

Also, the mechanical advantage for class 2 levers is always greater than 1

Class 3– In this type of lever Fulcrum and Load are two ends of the bar

Examples of class 3 levers are : Stapler, Sugar Tongs and Knife

Also, the mechanical advantage for class 3 levers is always less than 1

Examples of class of Levers found in the Human Body:

In the human body, we can find the examples of all three classes of levers, The muscles
exert force or effort by contraction.

 Class 1 Lever in the action of nodding of head: The Figure shows the action of
nodding of head. In this action, the spine acts as the Fulcrum (F), Load (L) is the
front part, while effort (E) is at its rear part. Thus this is an example of class 1
lever.
 Class 2 Lever in raising the weight of the body on toes: The 2nd figure shows how
the weight of the body is raised on toes. The fulcrum (F) is at the toes at one end,
the Load (L) (that is, weight of the body) is in the middle and effort (E) by muscles
is at the other end. Thus this is an example of class 2 lever.
 Class 3 Lever in raising the a load by forearm: The 3rd Figure shows the action of
biceps. The elbow joint acts as Fulcrum (f) at one end, biceps exerts the effort (E)
in the middle and the Load (L) on the palm is at the other end. Thus this is an
example of class 3 lever.