Refer to the figure showing different lever systems. The position of the fulcrum and the ratios of the lengths of the load arm and force arm indicate that lever(s) _______ is/are _______.
A) A; maximized for speed because the ratio of the load arm to force arm is 1:2
B) B; maximized for speed because the ratio of the load arm to force arm is 5:1
C) A and B; both maximized for force because the fulcrum is not positioned between the load arm and force arm
D) A; a class 1 lever because the fulcrum is located between the load and the point of force application
E) B; a class 2 lever because the load is located between the fulcrum and the point of force application

Question

Refer to the figure showing different lever systems.  The position of the fulcrum and the ratios of the lengths of the load arm and force arm indicate that lever(s) _______ is/are _______.
A) A; maximized for speed because the ratio of the load arm to force arm is 1:2 
B) B; maximized for speed because the ratio of the load arm to force arm is 5:1 
C) A and B; both maximized for force because the fulcrum is not positioned between the load arm and force arm 
D) A; a class 1 lever because the fulcrum is located between the load and the point of force application 
E) B; a class 2 lever because the load is located between the fulcrum and the point of force application

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lever B is maximized for speed because the ratio of the load arm to force arm is 5:1. In this lever, the load arm is longer than the force arm, which means that a small input force can move a large load with a greater distance and greater speed. The other levers do not have a ratio that maximizes speed, and the positioning of the fulcrum does not necessarily determine whether a lever is maximized for force or speed.

Refer to the Figure Showing Different Lever Systems