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The mighty mathematics of the lever - Andy Peterson and Zack Patterson

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What are simple machines? How do they make work easier? With this song and video, you’ll learn how wheels and axles, inclined planes, wedges, screws, levers and pulleys give us mechanical advantage to do work.

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Levers are one of the basic tools that were probably used in prehistoric times. Levers were first described about 260 BC by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes (287-212 BC).

A lever is a simple machine that makes work easier for use; it involves moving a load around a pivot using a force. Many of our basic tools use levers, including scissors (2 class 1 levers), pliers (2 class 1 levers), hammer claws (a single class 2 lever), nut crackers (2 class 2 levers), and tongs (2 class 3 levers).

A Type 1 Lever.

A Type 2 Lever.

A Type 3 Lever.

A Type 1 Lever.

In a Type 1 Lever, the pivot (fulcrum) is between the effort and the load. In an off-center type one lever (like a pliers), the load is larger than the effort, but is moved through a smaller distance.
Examples of common tools (and other items) that use a type 1 lever include:

Item

Number of Class 1 Levers Used

A Type 2 Lever.

In a Type 2 Lever, the load is between the pivot (fulcrum) and the effort.
Examples of common tools that use a type 2 lever include:

Item

Number of Class 2 Levers Used

bottle opener

a single class 2 lever

nail clippers

Two class 2 levers

nut cracker

Two class 2 levers

A Type 3 Lever.

In a Type 3 Lever, the effort is between the pivot (fulcrum) and the load.
Examples of common tools that use a type 3 lever include:

Item

Number of Class 3 Levers Used

tweezers

Two class 3 levers

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levers lever simple machine physics forces mechanics

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Advertisement. EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site. As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages. Click here to learn more. (Already a member? Click here.) Levers are one of the basic tools that were probably used in prehistoric times.

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The most commonly used simple machine!