Lesson 1: Seesaw

Ever noticed how some things around us are too heavy to be picked up no matter how strong and healthy we are? Well, mechanical engineers, even in ancient times, have always been developing ways to lift these heavy objects with ease.

In this session, we will be introduced to levers and how their structure assists in the lifting of heavy objects. We will be introduced to the history of levers and the forces that are involved wit their motion.

Lesson Keywords

Levers: a rigid bar resting on a pivot, used to move a heavy or firmly fixed load with one end when pressure is applied to the other

Fulcrum: the pivot point against which a lever is placed on which it turns

Simple machine: simple mechanical devices that use one or two mechanical principles to change the direction or position of an object

Wheelbarrow: a container used to lift and transport heavy objects that uses the lever principle with its wheels as the fulcrum