GCSE PE: 2A Movement analysis

What is a lever?

A rigid bar that turns about an axis to create movement

levers in the body

movement that occurs at joints

effort

force applied to one part of the lever

fulcrum

pivot point of the lever

resistance or load

opposite force working against effort

1st class lever

fulcrum in the middle

2nd class lever

load in the middle

3rd class lever

effort in the middle

1st class lever example

throwing a dart, rugby line-out

2nd class lever example

jumping, diving

3rd class lever example

bicep curl

mechanical advantage formula

Mechanical advantage = effort/resistance

1st and 3rd class levers have a lower mechanical advantage because…

it has a long effort arm and a shorter resistance arm, but this produces a wide range of movement

2nd class lever has a higher mechanical advantage because…

resistance arm is shorter than the effort arm, requires little effort for easy movement of heavy load

first class levers can have a higher mechanical advantage if…

the fulcrum is closer to the load