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Lever

Key Stage 2

Meaning

A 'Jack' uses a lever and a piston to allow a person to lift a car.

A lever is a tool which can be used to make lifting easier.

About Levers

Levers are used to lift cars with a jack, pull out nails with a hammer and to break locks with a crowbar.
A lever needs a long stiff rod and a pivot.
A seesaw can work as a lever. If an adult sits close to the centre and a child sits at the far end, the child can lift the adult.
Lever.png
A lever makes it easier to lift a heavy object.

Key Stage 3

Meaning

A lever is a Force Multiplier or a Distance Multiplier that uses a pivot to create a moment.

About Levers

Levers are used to lift cars with a jack, pull out nails with a hammer and to break locks with a crowbar.
A lever needs a long stiff rod and a pivot.
Lever.png
A lever makes it easier to lift a heavy object.

Extra Information

Key Stage 4

Meaning

A lever is a Force Multiplier or a Distance Multiplier that uses a pivot to create a moment.

About Levers

Levers work as force multipliers by applying a force of effort at a greater distance from the pivot than the force of load.
A lever needs a long stiff rod and a pivot.
WheelbarrowLever.png
The force of effort is 3 times further from the pivot than the force of load, so the effort is 3 times smaller than the load.

References

AQA

Lever, page 170, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA
Levers, page 57, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Levers, pages 120-122, 127, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Levers, pages 130-1, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
Levers, pages 166, 167, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA

Edexcel

Levers, page 137, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel
Levers, page 213, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
Levers, page 69, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel

OCR

Levers, page 39, Gateway GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
Levers, pages 86, Gateway GCSE Physics, Oxford, OCR