Lever Calculator
Calculate mechanical advantage, effort force, load force, and lever arm distances for first, second, and third class levers.
What Is a Lever?
A lever is a rigid bar that rotates about a fulcrum. By changing arm lengths, you can multiply force or distance. Levers are one of the six classical simple machines and appear in tools from crowbars to human limbs.
Lever Equilibrium
$$F_1 \times d_1 = F_2 \times d_2$$\(F_1\) is effort force, \(F_2\) is load force, and \(d_1\) and \(d_2\) are the perpendicular distances from the fulcrum to each force. Mechanical advantage is:
$$MA = \frac{F_2}{F_1} = \frac{d_1}{d_2}$$Three Classes of Levers
Class 1: Fulcrum between effort and load (seesaw, scissors). Class 2: Load between fulcrum and effort (wheelbarrow). Class 3: Effort between fulcrum and load (tweezers, biceps). Class 2 typically gives MA greater than 1; class 3 trades force for speed and range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mechanical advantage?
Mechanical advantage is the ratio of output (load) force to input (effort) force. MA greater than 1 means the lever multiplies force.
Which lever class gives the biggest force gain?
Class 2 levers with a long effort arm relative to the load arm typically provide the largest force multiplication.
Do distances need to be perpendicular to the bar?
Yes. Arm lengths are measured perpendicular from the fulcrum to the line of action of each force.
Can I solve for arm length?
Yes. Select effort arm or load arm in the solve-for dropdown and enter the other force and distance values.
Does this assume an ideal lever?
Yes. Friction, bending, and mass of the bar are ignored. Real systems may need a slightly higher effort force.
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