Level 2 Anatomy and Physiology

Unit 1 – The skeleton

Lesson 1.9 – Introduction to levers

Level 2 Anatomy and Physiology
Lesson 1.9 Introduction to levers

Step 1 – What is a lever?

You should work through this lesson, but don't worry too much if you aren't
'mechanically-minded' and have a little difficulty with some of the concepts. Try to
get the general idea.

It is useful to understand the principles of levers because the human body

employs these principles in all its movements.

A lever is a simple machine that consists of a rigid bar pivoted about a fixed point
(called a fulcrum). When the lever is acted on by a force (or effort) it can be used
to move a load or weight.

Step 2 – Orders of levers

There are three classes (or orders) of levers, differing by the relative positions of
the fulcrum, effort and weight.

First order levers

A first order lever has the
arrangement E-F-W

Second order levers

A second order lever has
the arrangement E-W-F

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Level 2 Anatomy and Physiology
Lesson 1.9 Introduction to levers

Third order levers

A third order lever has the
arrangement F-E-W

Step 3 – Activity Note: you can only complete this activity online.

Question: Is the following lever a first, second or third order lever?

Someone lifting the handles of a wheelbarrow.

Feedback: A wheelbarrow, as you can

see from the diagram, has its fulcrum at
the front, and the effort of lifting the
weight (in the middle) is applied at the
rear. So a wheelbarrow is a second
order lever (E-W-F).

Step 4 – Activity Note: you can only complete this activity online.

Question: Is the following lever a first, second or third order lever?

Someone pushing down on one end of a see-saw to lift a child at the other end.

Feedback: A see-saw is balanced

about the fulcrum, with the load at one
end and the effort applied at the other.
As the diagram illustrates, it is a first
order lever (E-F-W).

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Level 2 Anatomy and Physiology
Lesson 1.9 Introduction to levers

Step 5 – Activity Note: you can only complete this activity online.

Question: Is the following lever a first, second or third order lever?

Someone lifting a trap-door by its handle, which is hinged at one end, with the
handle at the other end.

Feedback: The diagram for the trap-

door is shown here. This is a second
order lever (E-W-F).

Step 6 – Activity Note: you can only complete this activity online.

Question: Is the following lever a first, second or third order lever?

The biceps muscle on the upper arm acting on the elbow joint to lift a weight in the
hand.

Feedback: This is a third order lever

(F-E-W). A diagram of this is shown
here.

Step 7 – Bones as levers

This last example illustrates the concept of bones being used as levers. In the
body, one or more bones comprise the rigid bar of a lever when effort is applied to
lift a weight or do other kinds of work.

In physics, 'work' is a general term meaning the overcoming of resistance through

the application of a force. We do work (in this sense) when, for example, we lift an
object, hit a ball with a bat or push against an opponent.

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Level 2 Anatomy and Physiology
Lesson 1.9 Introduction to levers

Step 8 – Bones as levers

The fulcrum is the point about which the lever moves and it passes through a joint.

Effort is applied at the point where muscles are attached to the bone. Contraction
of the muscles produces the required force.

The point through which the load acts is the centre of gravity of the object being
lifted or moved.

Question: Can you think of two examples of bones, joints and muscles acting as
levers?

Step 9 – Bones as levers

Some examples of levers in the body that you may have thought of are:

 The triceps muscle at the back of the upper arm acting as a first order lever
to extend the elbow
 The gastrocnemius muscle lifting on the heel, as a person stands on tip-toe
 Muscles in the finger acting on the joints as something is gripped by the
hand

Step 10 – The mechanical ratio

When the fulcrum is in the centre of the lever, the effort required is exactly the
same as the load. So if we place a weight of 50kg on one end of a see-saw, we
will have to apply a force of 50kg to lift it.

However, if the distance from the load to the fulcrum is longer than the distance
from the effort to the fulcrum, a greater force or effort is required. Conversely, if the
distance from the load to the fulcrum is shorter than the distance from the effort to
the fulcrum, less force or effort is required. The simple equation is:

Force x distance to fulcrum = Load x distance to fulcrum

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Level 2 Anatomy and Physiology
Lesson 1.9 Introduction to levers

Step 11 to 18 – Activity Note: you can only complete this activity online.

Fill in the blanks using the words below.

fulcrum, contraction, lever, bones, muscles, gravity, joint, weight

In the body, one or more _______________ comprise the rigid bar of a

_____________ when effort is applied to lift a _______________ or do other kinds
of work.
The ______________ - the point about which the lever moves – passes
through a _______________.
 Effort is applied at the point where _______________ are attached to
the bone. ______________ of the muscles produces the required force.

The point through which the load acts is the centre of _______________ of the
object being lifted or moved.
Feedback:
In the body, one or more bones comprise the rigid bar of a lever when effort is
applied to lift a weight or do other kinds of work.
The fulcrum - the point about which the lever moves – passes through a
joint.
 Effort is applied at the point where muscles are attached to the bone.
Contraction of the muscles produces the required force.

The point through which the load acts is the centre of gravity of the object being
lifted or moved.

Step 19 – Summary
A lever is a simple machine that consists of a rigid bar pivoted about a fixed point
(called a fulcrum).

When the lever is acted on by a force (or effort) it can be used to move a load or
weight.

In the body, one or more bones comprise the rigid bar of a lever when effort is
applied to lift a weight or do other kinds of work.

There are three classes (or orders) of levers, differing by the relative positions of
the fulcrum (F), effort (E) and weight (W):

 A first order lever has the arrangement E-F-W

 A second order lever has the arrangement E-W-F
 A third order lever has the arrangement F-E-W

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