Subject: Science
A lever is a simple machine. It consists of a rigid bar which is free to turn about a fixed point called fulcrum. The weight to be lifted is the load and the force applied to the bar is called effort. The distance of the load from the fulcrum is called the load arm and the distance of effort from the fulcrum is called the effort arm.
There are three types of lever depending upon the position of the load, effort, and fulcrum. These are
A first class lever is one in which the fulcrum lies anywhere between the effort and load. Examples: Crowbar, seesaw, scissors, pliers, beam balance, the handle of water pump, etc.
A second-class lever is one in which the load is between the effort and fulcrum.
Examples: Wheelbarrow, nutcracker, bottle opener, oar of a rowboat, etc.
A third class lever is one in which the effort is between the load and the fulcrum
Examples: shovel, sugar tongs, finger nut cutter, tweezers, human forearm, fork, fishing rod, etc.
What is a lever? What is its principle?
A lever is a simple machine which consists of a rigid bar which is free to turn about a fixed point called fulcrum. The principle of lever is, the nearer the fulcrum to the weight to be moved, the easier it is to shift, the farther from the fulcrum, the more difficult.
The handles of tin-shear are kept much longer than the blades.
Because effort arm is increased according to the principle of lever less effort is required.
The effort of a lever is 4m long and the load arm is 2m long. Find the effort required to lift a load of 40N.
Solution,
\begin{align*} \text {Load}\: (L) = 40N\\ \text {Load arm}\: (L. d) = 2m\\ \text {Effort arm}\: (E.d) = 4m\\ \text {Effort} (E) =?\\ \text {According to the principle of lever,} \\ \text {Load} \times \text {Load arm} &= \text {Effort} \times \text {Effort arm} \\ \text {or,}\: 40 \times 2 = E \times 4 \\ \text {or,}\: 80/4 &= E \\ \text {or,}\: E = 20N \\ \text {Hence, the effort required to lift a load is}\: 20\:N. \\\end{align*}
A man uses a 1.5 m long crowbar to lift a stone of 600N. If the distance between the load and fulcrum is 0.5 m, find how much effort does he requires.
Solution:
\begin{align*} \text {Load}\: (L) = 600N \\\text {Load arm}\: (L. d) = 0.5\\ \text {Effort arm}\: (E. d) = 1.5 - 0.5 m= 1m \\ \text {Effort}\: (E) =?\\ \text {According to the principle of lever,} \\ \text {Load} \times \text {Load arm} &= \text {Effort} \times \text {Effort arm} \\\text {or,}\: 600 \times 0.5 &= E \times 1 \\ \text {or,}\: E &= 300N \\ \text {Hence, the effort required to lift a load is}\: 300\:N. \\ \end{align*}
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