What does a lever with a mechanical advantage allow a performer to do?

A lever with a mechanical advantage can move a large load with a small effort. The lever's effort arm is longer than its load arm.

What is a mechanical disadvantage?

A lever has a mechanical disadvantage when its load arm is longer than its effort arm. A large effort is then needed to move even a small load.

Which class of lever always has a mechanical advantage, and why?

Second class levers always have a mechanical advantage. The load sits between the fulcrum and the effort, so the effort arm is always the longer.

Edexcel GCSE Physical Education 1PE0

Applied Anatomy and Physiology

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Movement Analysis

Topic overview First, second and third class levers Mechanical advantage and disadvantage Planes and axes of movement

Physical Training

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Movement Analysis

Mechanical advantage and disadvantage

3 things to know
Component 1

Overview

The effort arm and load arm, mechanical advantage and disadvantage with worked calculations, and what each lever class gives up and gains.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What is the effort arm of a lever?

Key term

What is the load arm of a lever?

Evaluation

How is mechanical advantage calculated?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the effort arm of a lever?
Model answer
The effort arm is the distance from the fulcrum to the point where the effort is applied.
2
What is the load arm of a lever?
Model answer
The load arm is the distance from the fulcrum to the load.
3
How is mechanical advantage calculated?
Model answer
Mechanical advantage = effort arm ÷ load arm. A value above 1 means the lever has a mechanical advantage, and mechanical advantage has no units.
4
What does a lever with a mechanical advantage allow a performer to do?
Model answer
A lever with a mechanical advantage can move a large load with a small effort. The lever's effort arm is longer than its load arm.
5
What is a mechanical disadvantage?
Model answer
A lever has a mechanical disadvantage when its load arm is longer than its effort arm. A large effort is then needed to move even a small load.
6
Which class of lever always has a mechanical advantage, and why?
Model answer
Second class levers always have a mechanical advantage. The load sits between the fulcrum and the effort, so the effort arm is always the longer.

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