LIST
FEGURÐ OG VELLÍÐAN
HANDVERK
MENNING OG SAGA
SKEMMTUN
UMHVERFI
MATUR OG DRYKKUR
GRÆN FRAMTÍÐ
ÖFUGVERKFRÆÐI
SKÓLAVERKEFNI
VÍSINDI
ÍÞRÓTTIR
TÆKNI
KLÆÐANLEG TÆKNI
The Law of the Lever — Archimedes' Balance of Weight and Distance
Martin

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Martin

2. júlí 2026NO
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The Law of the Lever — Archimedes' Balance of Weight and Distance

'Give me a place to stand and I will move the Earth,' said Archimedes of the lever. Around 250 BC he proved the exact law behind it: a weight balances another when each weight multiplied by its distance from the pivot is equal. That simple rule — weight times distance on one side equals weight times distance on the other — lets a small effort lift an enormous load, and underlies the crowbar, the balance scale, the oar and the seesaw. This blueprint builds a lever and fulcrum and demonstrates the law by measurement.
Byrjandi
2

Leiðbeiningar

1

Understand the law

A lever is a rigid bar that turns on a pivot called the fulcrum. Archimedes' law says it balances when the weight on one side times its distance from the fulcrum equals the weight times distance on the other: W1 × d1 = W2 × d2. Each 'weight times distance' is called a moment.
2

Build a lever and fulcrum

Rest a straight rigid beam across a fixed fulcrum — a triangular block or a firm edge — so the beam can tip freely both ways. Mark equal distance graduations along the beam from the fulcrum.

Efni fyrir þetta skref:

Dowel RodDowel Rod1 piece
Hardwood BlockHardwood Block1 piece

Nauðsynleg verkfæri:

Cotton Kitchen StringCotton Kitchen String
3

Balance equal weights

Hang or set equal weights the same distance from the fulcrum on each side. The beam should sit level. This confirms your fulcrum is central and the beam itself is balanced.

Nauðsynleg verkfæri:

Ankle Weight Set (Adjustable, DIY)Ankle Weight Set (Adjustable, DIY)
4

Balance a heavy weight with a light one

Put a heavy weight close to the fulcrum and a lighter weight far out on the other arm. Slide the light weight in or out until the beam balances — the small far weight holds up the big near one.

Nauðsynleg verkfæri:

Ankle Weight Set (Adjustable, DIY)Ankle Weight Set (Adjustable, DIY)
5

Verify the numbers

Measure and multiply. For example, 4 units of weight at 10 cm balances 1 unit at 40 cm, because 4 × 10 = 40 = 1 × 40. The two moments are equal — exactly as Archimedes' law predicts.

Nauðsynleg verkfæri:

Cotton Kitchen StringCotton Kitchen String
6

Read off the mechanical advantage

The ratio of the two arm lengths is the force multiplier. A long effort arm and a short load arm let a small push raise a big load: effort = load × (load arm ÷ effort arm). Doubling the effort arm halves the effort needed.
7

Why it could 'move the Earth'

Because the law has no built-in limit, a long enough lever on a firm enough fulcrum could balance any weight at all — the point Archimedes was making. In practice the only limits are the length and stiffness of the bar.
8

Spot levers everywhere

The same rule works a crowbar prising a rock, a seesaw, an oar against its rowlock, a wheelbarrow, and the balance scale of a market. Each trades distance for force by weight × distance.

Efni

2

Nauðsynleg verkfæri

2

You can swap these in

Can't get one of the materials? Swap it for an equivalent — these work just as well.

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