Lever Systems and Mechanical Advantage Flashcards

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What is a lever system in the body?

It is how a bone, a joint, and a muscle work to move a load. The bone turns around the joint.

What are the three parts of a lever system?

Fulcrum (pivot), effort (muscle force), and load or resistance (what is moved).

In the body, what acts as the fulcrum, the lever, the effort, and the load?

The fulcrum is a joint. The lever is a bone. The effort is the pull of a muscle. The load is body weight or an object.

What are the effort arm and the resistance arm?

The effort arm is the distance from the fulcrum to the effort. The resistance arm is the distance from the fulcrum to the load.

What is a first-class lever? Give one example in sport or exercise.

The fulcrum is between the effort and the load. Example: extension at the neck when heading a ball. It can give advantage or disadvantage, depending on arm lengths.

What is a second-class lever? Give one example in the body.

The load is between the fulcrum and the effort. Example: plantar flexion at the ankle when standing on tiptoes.

What is a third-class lever? Give one example in the body.

The effort is between the fulcrum and the load. Example: elbow flexion in a biceps curl.

What is mechanical advantage?

It shows how well a lever lets a small effort move a bigger load.

How do you calculate mechanical advantage?

Mechanical advantage = effort arm length ÷ resistance arm length.

How can you increase mechanical advantage in a lever?

Increase the effort arm or decrease the resistance arm. Move the effort further from the fulcrum or the load closer to it.

Which lever class usually has a mechanical advantage, and what is the trade-off?

Second-class levers. They move larger loads with less effort, but with less speed and range of movement.

Which lever class usually has a mechanical disadvantage, and what is the benefit?

Third-class levers. They give more speed and a larger range of movement, but need more effort.

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