NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam

Which of the following best describes a second-class lever?

1. Both forces act on opposite sides of the fulcrum

2. The load is between the effort and the fulcrum

3. The effort is applied through a longer arm than the load

4. All forces act on the same side of the lever

The correct answer is: The load is between the effort and the fulcrum

A second-class lever is characterized by the positioning of its components: the fulcrum, the load, and the effort. In a second-class lever, the load is situated between the effort and the fulcrum. This means that when a force is applied to lift or move the load, it provides an advantage in terms of mechanical advantage because the effort can often be applied more effectively with a longer leverage. For example, a wheelbarrow operates on this principle. The wheel acts as the fulcrum, the load is carried in the bucket of the wheelbarrow, and the person lifting the handles applies the effort on the other side, effectively transferring the load upwards with minimized effort. Understanding this structure helps in various fields, such as physical training, where knowledge of leverage can inform exercise techniques and equipment use.