8.11 Levers

Vocabulary flashcards covering key lever concepts and examples from the notes.

Lever

A simple machine consisting of a rigid bar that turns about a pivot to lift or move loads.

Fulcrum

The fixed point about which a lever turns.

Pivot

A support on which a lever turns or oscillates; acts like the lever’s fulcrum.

Effort

The force you apply to the lever to move a load.

Load

The weight or external force that is moved by the lever.

Turning effect

The turning (rotational) effect produced by a force on a lever.

Turning force

The moment (torque) of a force that causes rotation.

Moment

The turning effect of a force; can be clockwise or anti-clockwise.

Lever arm

The distance from the pivot to where a force is applied (effort or load).

Force multiplier

A lever arrangement where a small effort produces a larger output force.

Distance multiplier

A lever arrangement where the load moves farther than the effort (distance advantage).

Hammer

A lever used as a force multiplier to remove nails.

Wheelbarrow

A lever with the load between the pivot and the effort, allowing a larger load to be moved with less effort.

Nutcracker

A lever that multiplies force to crack nuts.

Crowbar

A lever used to pry objects apart, increasing turning effect.

Spade

A lever used for digging, acting as a force multiplier.

Sugar tongs

A distance multiplier lever where the ends move more than the handles.

Fishing rod

A distance multiplier lever that increases the movement distance of the load.

Scissors

Two lever arms working together to multiply force.

Bottle opener

A small lever tool that multiplies effort to lift a cap.