KEY TERMS

• fulcrum


  the part of the lever system that pivots, joints are the fulcrum in the body
• load / resistance


  the load to be moved by the lever system, ususally this involves weight
• effort


  the force applied to move the load or weight in the body, this is applied by muscles
• load arm


  distance between the fulcrum and the load
• effort arm


  distance between the fulcrum and the effort
• mechanical advantage


  a large load can be lifted with a relatively small amount of effort

  mechanical advantage = effort ÷ load