Introduction

A lever is a simple machine used to make work easier. It consists of a rigid bar with a support that allows the bar to pivot. The point where the bar pivots is the fulcrum. There are three classes of levers: first, second, and third. In this experiment, you will examine first-class levers. Crowbars and scissors are examples of first-class levers. A lever can help you move an object by increasing the force you exert. Mechanical advantage (MA) is a value that tells the number of times a machine increases an applied force. You will use the force sensor built into a Sensor Cart to measure resistance force and effort force. You will then use this information to calculate the mechanical advantage of each lever.

Objectives