Elliot's page on levers

Elliots intro to 3 classes of levers
Elliot's class 1 lever Elliot's class 2 leverElliot's class 3 levers

What are levers used for?
We use levers to make heavy objects easier to lift.

How does a lever work?
Levers work because you are exchanging lifting a large force from a short distance with lifting a small force from a far distance.

What is a lever?
A rigid bar resting on a pivot, used to help move a heavy or firmly fixed load with one end when pressure is applied to the other.





Here is an example of three classes of levers
levers.png
crowbar.jpg
Crowbar is a lever




The three main parts that make a lever are:

The fulcrum

  • The fulcrum is the pivot point of the lever.
  • The fulcrum can be placed anywhere along the lift arm of the lever.
  • Depending where you put the fulcrum lifting the load can feel easier or harder to lift.
  • Their is very little friction between the fulcrum and the lift arm.

The input force
  • The force of you or a machine pushes on an end of a lever.

The load / output force

  • The force that you are lifting.



Here is a Short video on how levers work:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvZbk2GIGDA






Learn about levers here:

Elliot's intro to 3 classes of leversElliot's class 1 lever Elliot's class 2 leverElliot's class 3 levers

Elliot's references


  • The levers are classed by where the fulcrum, Output force/ load and input force are placed.


Feel smart? Take the levers quiz!
Elliot's Levers quiz!!!