Levers and Pulleys: Principles of Mechanical Advantage
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Understanding Levers: Simple Machines
What is a Lever?
Levers are simple machines. They are made up of a rigid bar and a point of support, which is also called a fulcrum. They are normally used to exert a large force using only a small force; they are a type of force multiplier.
Key Elements of a Lever
Resistance is the force that must be overcome by the applied force. The point of support, or fulcrum, is the point about which the lever swings. The arms, the force arm and the resistance arm, correspond to the distance between the fulcrum and the applied force or resistance, respectively.
- The force arm is the distance between the fulcrum and the applied force.
- The resistance arm is the distance between the fulcrum and the resistance.