Levers

Vocab Lever- a lever is a simple machine that people use to gain a mechanical advantage, such as making work easier Fulcrum- The point where the lever arm pivots Lever Arm- A stick or beam free to pivot at a point

Load- The mass lifted or the resistance overcome by a lever Effort- the force needed to move a load or overcome resistance. Measured in Newtons

Content A lever can make a load easier to lift, it can move loads, and it reduces effort. The farther the effort is from the fulcrum, the easier it is to lift the load. The closer the load is to the fulcrum the easier it is to lift the load

Parts of a lever The four parts of a lever are: lever arm, fulcrum, load, and effort

Measuring with Spring Scales Always zero the scales before starting the day’s activity. Always use the scale right side up, never upside down. Pull until the lever arm is level, then read the effort. Stop before the scale goes past 10 N limit.

Two-coordinate graph Two coordinate graph- shows the relationships between two variables A two-coordinate graph is helpful for understanding relationships and making predictions. The x-axis on the bottom describes what you changed during the experiment.

Advantage Advantage- a benefit obtained by using a lever (or other simple machine)

Content The farther the effort is from the fulcrum, the easier it is to lift the load. The closer the load is to the fulcrum the easier it is to lift the load.