Giant Lever
Using the Giant Lever, lift a 2,437 pound (1105.4 kg) 1961 Mercury Comet off the ground!The distance from the fulcrum (pivot point) affects the amount of work required to lift the car. Two times the distance equals half the effort, making it possible for you to lift the Comet just by pulling the rope at the other end of the lever.
Three Classes of Levers
| Class 1: | The fulcrum is between the load and the effort. This usually allows for less force to be used to move the load. | |
| Examples: crow bar, balance, car jack, seesaw, and scissors
|
||
| Class 2: | The load is between the effort and the fulcrum. | |
| Examples: nutcracker and wheelbarrow
|
||
| Class 3: | The effort is between the fulcrum and the load. This lever acts as a force reducer, since the effort is greater than the load. | |
| Examples: tweezers, sheep shears and most human joints
|
||
