S: Types of Levers

LeversMay 16, 2008

~ Archimedes

Give me a place to stand and I will move the Earth.

Objectives1. Analyze and label the parts of a lever

2. Provide examples of first, second and third class levers.

3. Calculate and determine the mechanical advantage of a lever.

Forces in Machines

A simple machine is an unpowered mechanical device, such as a lever.

Lever

A bar that is free to move about a fixed point Parts of a lever

Fulcrum – The fixed point of a lever Effort Arm – The part of the lever that the effort

force is applied to (measured from the fulcrum to the point at which the force is applied)

Resistance Arm – The part of the lever that applies the resistance force (measured from the fulcrum to the center of the resistance force)

Anatomy of the lever

Fulcrum – point around which the lever rotates Input Force – Force exerted ON the lever Output Force – Force exerted BY the lever

Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA) – What the mechanical advantage of a machine would be if there were no energy lost due to friction

IMA = length of effort arm = le . length of resistance arm lr

By using the length of the effort arm and the resistance arm you can find the ideal mechanical advantage. We can find the ideal mechanical advantage of any simple machine by dividing the effort distance by the resistance distance.

There are 3 types of levers

1st Class Levers 2nd Class Levers 3rd Class Levers

1st Class LeverThe fulcrum is located between the Fe and the Fr. First class levers can multiply force and distance.Examples: Scissors, see-saw

2nd Class Lever

The resistance is located between the effort force and the fulcrum. These levers multiply the force but the direction stays the same.Example: Wheelbarrow

The effort force is located between the fulcrum and the resistance. The effort arm is always shorter than the resistance arm so it cannot multiply the force and the MA is always less than 1.Examples: Rake, hockey stick

3rd Class Lever