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#1 2013-02-04 08:50:10
Levers
I am making a project about levers where you change the variables to create one. Well, I'm not going to be able to make it until I have the effort formula. I'm in fifth grade, so I don't understand this:
Fe = Effort Force
Fl = Load Weight
Dl = Distance from Load to Fulcrum
De = Distance from Effort Force to Fulcrum
Here's the formula:
Fe = Fl.Dl/De
Can you please tell me what it means in terms I can understand?
And what is that dot for?
-cja4625
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#2 2013-02-04 10:29:38
- technoguyx
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-10-18
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Levers
This basically means that the effort required (Fe) to lift a load Fl, given the distances of both to a fulcrum, is equal to Fl*Dl/De. Thus, bigger values of Fl or Dl will require more effort, and bigger values of De will require less.
The dot was probably an asterisk (*), denoting multiplication.
If this is right, the forces (Fe, Fl) are in newtons or pounds, and the distances, in meters or feet. These will be values you'll need to simulate.
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