December 1, 2010

• EQ: How does the design of a lever help reduce the amount of
force needed to lift an object?

• FF: Which type of heat transfer could be illustrated with a

microwave?
A. radiation
B. Convection
C. Conduction
D. evaporation

• HW: Study for QUIZ TOMORROW!!!

 Levers
• A lever is a rigid bar or
board that is free to
move around a fixed
point called a fulcrum.

• The fulcrum may be

placed in different
locations along the
bar.
 Levers
• The closer the
weight is to the
fulcrum, the less
force is needed.

• The farther the

force is applied from
the fulcrum the less
force is needed.
Examples of Levers
Classes of Levers
 Lab Setup Instructions
1. Place a binder clip on the ruler, centered on the 25 cm
mark. This will be the fulcrum for our lever.
2. Tie a rubber band to the hook on the spring scale and the
black weight.
3. Hang the spring scale at the 1 cm mark on the ruler.
4. Hang the weight 5 cm from the fulcrum at the 30 cm mark.
5. Pull down on the spring scale until it is balanced exactly in
the center and record the amount of force needed.
6. Repeat for 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm and 25 cm from the
fulcrum.
7. Make a graph (x-axis – Distance from the fulcrum (cm), y-
axis – Amount of force (N))
Question: How does the distance of a weight from the
fulcrum affect the amount of force needed to lift it?

Distance of the weight from Amount of Force needed to

the fulcrum (cm) balance (N)

10

15

20

25