Levers


Use a lever to lift a pig, turkey, or sheep. A strongman provides up to 1000 newtons of effort. The fulcrum, strongman, and animals can be moved to any position to create first-, second-, or third-class levers.

Screenshot of Levers Gizmo

LESSON MATERIALS:

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

  • Identify the parts of a lever.
  • Discover that a lever can be used to lift heavy objects using less force.
  • Describe the relationship between the applied force (effort) needed to lift a load and the distance from the fulcrum to the applied force.
  • Calculate mechanical advantage.
  • Diagram a first, second, and third-class lever.

VOCABULARY:

  • effort, first-class lever, fulcrum, lever, load, mechanical advantage, second-class lever, third-class lever

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