Lever

What is Lever?

A rigid bar pivoting about a fixed point, or fulcrum, used to multiply an applied force at the cost of moving through a greater distance. Moving the fulcrum closer to the load reduces the effort needed to lift it — the same tradeoff behind everything from a crowbar to a simple seesaw.

The five clues

Engineerdle #24 described Lever with five clues, revealed one at a time from hardest to most direct. Each clue points at a different property of the concept.

1. 01One of the oldest machines ever devised, older than recorded history itself.
2. 02It trades force for distance, or distance for force — never both at once for free.
3. 03A rigid bar pivots around a fixed point.
4. 04Move the pivot closer to the load and less effort is needed to lift it.
5. 05A rigid bar pivoting about a fixed point, used to multiply an applied force.

More Statics concepts

• Pulley SystemPuzzle #28
• TorquePuzzle #6