Question

A lever is used to lift a heavy load. When a 52 N force pushes the left end of the lever down 0.71 m, the load rises 0.3m. What is the work input?

Answer 1

`W=36.92J`

Explanation:

For this question, recall that work is an applied force over a distance, given by

`W=Fd`

The question asks what your input work was with the lever. Note also that the work done in this case is positive, even though you are working with gravity. This is because you are raising the potential energy of this side of the lever since it wants to actually rise up not fall down. (Think of it as a spring)

Solving for work input

`W=52N*.71m=36.92J`