Levers

Levers are simple machines

used to obtain a Mechanical
Advantage.

A lever is a rigid bar that

pivots (rotates) about a fixed
point. Levers are used to
change the magnitude,
direction, or speed of forces
that act on an object.
 What Is a Lever?
A lever can be a bar or rod that rotates on a pivot, called a fulcrum.
When an unbalanced force is applied to the lever, the lever rotates about
the fulcrum
 Parts of a Lever

Load or Resistance Force or Effort

FULCRUM

Distance From Distance From

Fulcrum to The Fulcrum to The
Resistance Effort
 Class 1 Lever
The Fulcrum lies between the Resistance and the Effort

Load or Resistance Force or Effort

FULCRUM

10 Inches 10 Inches

Note: The movement of the force and the resistance are in

opposite directions.
 Note that in this example the masses are different, but the
distances from the fulcrum are equal. The lever rotates about
the fulcrum. The unbalanced force that causes the lever to rotate
is called a Torque
 Class 2 Lever
The resistance is between the Effort and the Fulcrum

10 Inches 10 Inches
Load or Resistance
Force or Effort
FULCRUM

Note: The direction of the force, and the movement of the

resistance are in the same direction.
Note: In this example the Effort acts further from the Fulcrum
then the Resistance. The force (in lbs.) needed to move the
resistance is less than the weight of the resistance (in lbs.)
 Class 3 Lever
The Effort is between the Resistance and the Fulcrum

Load or Resistance

Force or Effort

10 Inches 10 Inches

Note: The direction of the force, and FULCRUM

the movement of the resistance are in
the same direction.
 Third class levers are used to increase the rate of motion
(speed) of an object with respect to the speed of the force
acting on the object. In this example the Resistance moves
twice as far (fast) as the effort (force) acting on it.
Mechanical
Advantage
 Theoretical Mechanical Advantage
The ratio between the Output force and the
Input force of a lever system.

Theoretical Mechanical Advantage = 10:1

Force or Effort Load or Resistance

Input Force = 100 lb. Output Force = 1000 lb.

100lb x 10ft. = 1000lb. X 1ft.

100 lbs. 1000 lbs.

10 feet 1 foot

Center of Effort Center of Mass

 Calculating Mechanical Advantage
Effort x Distance = Resistance x Distance
Force or Effort Load or Resistance

Input Force = 100 ft.lbs. Output Force = 1000 ft. lbs.

100 lbs. 1000 lbs.

10 feet 1 foot

Center of Center of Mass

Effort
100lb x 10ft. = 1000lb. X 1ft.
If the Effort x distance from the fulcrum is not equal to the
the Resistance x distance from the fulcrum, then;

The Lever System is Unbalanced

Force or Effort
100 lbs. x 20 ft. = 500 x 15 ft.
2000 lb.ft. = 7500 lb. ft.
Load or Resistance

A net torque of 5500 ft.

lbs is created
Example: When the loads are equal but the
distances are not, the lever is not balanced.

100 x 10 = 100 x 30
 There are many types of levers
found around the home

Resistance or Load

Fulcrum Nail Extractor Effort

Class 1 Lever
 Hammer

Resistance or Load

Effort

Class 3 Lever
Fulcrum
 Salad Server

Resistance or Load
Effort

Fulcrum

2 Class 1 Levers Sharing a Common Fulcrum

This backhoe is an example of a
multiple lever. It has three
different fulcrums.
 *
* *

The asterisks show the locations of each fulcrum

The Trebuchet
A class 1 lever used to
maximize the speed of a
relatively lightweight
projectile (Resistance)
by using a massive
counterweight (Effort)
to create a large
unbalanced force