Physics: Levers LabPhysics: Levers Lab

Goals1. Construct and manipulate a lever

to lift a load.2. Investigate the relationship

between the distance of loads, fulcrums and effort forces in levers.

Goals1. Construct and manipulate a lever

to lift a load.2. Investigate the relationship

between the distance of loads, fulcrums and effort forces in levers.

1. Check to make sure the spring scale is balanced or zeroed. If not turn the knob at the top to fix it.

2. Lift the load using the spring scale to find out how much force it normally takes to lift it without the aid of a lever. Record the information on a paper for later use.

• In lab experiment A, the load will stay at 10 cm from the fulcrum. The effort will be applied at various distances from the fulcrum.

• In lab experiment B, the effort will stay at 10 cm from the fulcrum and the load will be moved to various distances from the fulcrum.

• Record the effort needed to lift the load in the correct charts. Then add 0.5 N to each reading to compensate for the weight of the scale itself. Graph all your results.

• Record the effort needed to lift the load in the correct charts. Then add 0.5 N to each reading to compensate for the weight of the scale itself. Graph all your results.

Analysis1. Did it take less effort to lift the

load using a lever?

2. Did you observe a relationship between the position of the effort and the amount of effort needed to lift the load? What relationship?

3. In what ways can a lever provide an advantage?