FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
A lever is a simple mechanism with a hinge and a rigid beam.
The exertion (input pressure) and weight (output pressure) are applied on either side of the beam. The fulcrum is the center point of the beam.
A weight is applied to one end of the lever, and pressure is applied to the other, lifting up or pulling down. This will cause a mass to rise. Torque is required for the action of levers. The level of force needed to spin an object about its axis is known as torque (or pivot point).
Assume you own a treehouse, and a large bag of snacks must be carried up to the treehouse. Many types of machines could be helpful. To hoist the bag, you may create a basic pulley out of a rope tied across a branch. You could use a lever instead of a cord if you didn't have one. Archimedes, a historical scientist, and mathematician was the first to describe levers in history. They've most likely existed since ancient times.
You'll need a longboard to build a lever to elevate the food. A hinge or pivot is formed by placing the board on a boulder, log, or solid container. You'd press down on the board's vacant edge, allowing the board and food to rise into the air. Consider how difficult it would be to haul a hefty bag of snacks up a tree. Lifting big objects becomes considerably safer with the use of a lever.
So how does an ideal lever look like? What are the properties of first-class levers, second-class levers, and third-class levers? How does a lever help a simple machine generate a large force? Read on for some interesting facts about the different classes of levers.
A see-saw is a common playground structure that employs the power of a first-class lever.
Lifting big goods, removing confined items, and cutting stuff are more manageable using levers. A fulcrum is located in the center of a first-class lever, between the exertion and the weight (the item being shifted or uplifted).
The fulcrum of a first-class lever is placed between the weight and the exertion. Moving the weight requires less effort when the fulcrum is nearer to the weight.
Check out facts about the principle of a lever:
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.