Mechanisms
A mechanisms is also known as a ...
simple machine
A lever is a simple machine that increases the ... we apply.
force
This is the fixed point that a lever turns around.
The pivot (or fulcrum)
Levers make lifting heavy objects ...
easier
Name 3 examples of mechanisms.
levers, gears, pulleys
Name the 3 parts of a lever.
load, pivot (fulcrum), effort
In a lever diagram, what shows the force needed.
effort
Moving the pivot closer to the load will make it ... to lift.
easier
Explain why mechanisms are useful when lifting or moving heavy objects.
They change the size or direction of a force, which reduces the effort needed to do work.
Explain how changing the position of the pivot affects how easy it is to lift a load.
Moving the pivot closer to the load reduces the effort needed because the effort arm becomes longer.
Why does the effort arrow often point downwards in lever diagrams, even when the effort is a pull?
The arrow shows the direction the force acts, not whether it is a push or a pull.
Two people use the same lever to lift a load, but one finds it easier. Explain one reason why this might happen.
One person may apply the effort further from the pivot, which increases the turning effect of the lever and reduces the force needed to lift the load.