ANATOMY OF THE

LEVER
Lever A bar that is free to move about a
fixed point
Parts of a lever
Fulcrum The fixed point of a lever
Effort Arm The part of the lever that the
effort force is applied to (measured from
the fulcrum to the point at which the force
is applied)
Resistance Arm The part of the lever that
applies the resistance force (measured
from the fulcrum to the center of the

ANATOMY OF THE
LEVER

Levers may be straight or curved

Forces applied on the lever parallel or inclined

Effort arm

load arm

Large load- small effort i.e. l2 should be effort arm and it should
be greater than l1.
Large effort arm may not be possible due to space limitations.
For greater leverage compound levers (straight pieces with
pins

APPLICATION OF LEVERS IN ENGINEERING

PRACTICE

Three Classes of Levers

First Class - fulcrum
between Input and output
Second Class output
between fulcrum and
input
Third Class input
between fulcrum and
output